Breaking News: Nassarawa Lawmakers Go Back To Work After Yesterday's Attack

Less than 24 hours after being shut down indefinitely, The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has been reopened for normal activities.

The indefinite shut down announcement came from the Speaker of the Assembly Musa Mohammed on Tuesday, 27 August, 2013 evening after irate youth attacked the lawmakers within the assembly complex. The lawmakers reversed their decision on indefinite postponement after a 3-hour closed door meeting with the state governor, Tanko Al-Makura on 28 August, 2013. The meeting was held inside the conference room of the speaker’s office, with 23 lawmakers in attendance.

Although the details of the meeting were not made public, a source said the governor sympathized with the lawmakers over the attack and gave assurance that the lives and property of the lawmakers would be secured. The governor attended the meeting in the company of the State Commissioner of Police and Director of the State Security Service.

During the lawmakers’ sitting after the meeting, the speaker commended the state commissioner of police for the prompt provision of security personnel to curtail the crisis and asked residents to remain calm. Earlier, the state government distanced itself from the attack by the youth, who questioned the lawmakers’ summon on the state governor.

A statement signed by the State Commissioner of Information, Hamza Elayo, condemned the attack and sympathised with the lawmakers. “We condemn in strong terms the unfortunate, unprovoked and unwarranted disturbance of Tuesday August 27th, 2013 at the premises of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly by yet to be identified hoodlums.

“The government strongly dissociates itself from such unprovoked acts and sympathize with the Speaker and Honourable members over the sad incident”. “Government calls on security agencies to investigate and bring to book all those found to have been directly involved or have supported this unwholesome and dastardly act,” the commissioner said. Mr. Elayo warned that the government would deal with anyone involved in the attack.

“Government also warns that it will not condone such acts which are capable of derailing the country’s democracy as well as causing disharmony among the people of this state,” he said.