Tight security at Benue assembly complex

THERE was a tight security at the Benue State Assembly  complex  on Tuesday, as no fewer than  30 fierce looking, gun-wielding security operatives  mounted surveillance.

The presence of security men may not be unconnected with  insinuations of a possible invasion of the assembly by unknown persons, following the crisis over members’  invitation to anti graft commission in recent times.

The security men, which included men of the Department of Security Services (DSS), carried out thorough search of persons and vehicles going in and coming out of the assembly complex.

Prior the sitting of the assembly on Tuesday, members had earlier gone into executive session for over three  hours with the suspended member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),  Honourable  Kester Kyenge, in attendance.

The chairman, House Committee on Information, Honourable Bem Ngutyo, said the presence of security personnel in the assembly complex was to forestall any threat to security of members.

Ngutyo further said the assembly just  officially communicated the suspension to Kester, maintaining that their action would serve as a deterrent to other members, including members of the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) that nobody was above the law.

He accused Kester of acting the script of someone(whom he did not mention), adding that “we have to tame him and prove that we are in charge of the assembly.”

He recalled that the same scenario happened during the sixth assembly when the late Baver Dzeremo representing Tarka State constituency at that time, was suspended for three  months for the same offence Kester committed, noting that Baver humbly apologised and was called back.

It should be noted that the Benue State House of Assembly has been enmeshed in fraud relating to car purchase which amounted to over N750 million. But the assembly’s leadership vehemently denied the allegation, claiming that the amount was just N317 million.