Nasarawa assembly shut as youths attack lawmakers

The Nasarawa State House of Assembly was on Tuesday shut down after youths attacked lawmakers for inviting Governor Tanko Al-Makura to answer questions on the non-implementation of the House resolutions.
The Speaker, Alhaji Musa Muhammed, announced this indefinite closure at a press conference attended by the state Commissioner of Police, Shehu Umar in Lafia on Tuesday.
Mohammed said the assembly had alerted security agencies in the state to the impending attack; and yet the youth found their way into the assembly complex.
He said the house would no longer sit until the security of the members could be guaranteed.
Also, the police commissioner said the policewere trying to calm the situation and would ensure that the perpetrators were brought to book.
Hundreds of youth had stormed the Assembly on Tuesday throwing stones and other weapons at the lawmakers after Al-Makura, appeared before the lawmakers.
The youth were not happy with the invitation of Al-Makura by the Assembly to explain the executive's non-implementation of the lawmakers' resolutions.
The youth waited outside the assembly premises until the lawmakers adjourned for the day and allowed the governor to go.
They defied security officials and pelted the lawmakers' vehicles with stones and other materials.
The youth also defied the state governor whotried to pacify them.
Security officials had to fire tear-gas to disperse them.
Observers, however, read political meaning into this action. This is because Al-Makura is a member of the All Progressives Congress while the majority of the lawmakers are members of the Peoples Democratic Party.
The Nasarawa PDP had warned of retaliation should the lawmakers be attacked.
In a statement, the Nasarawa PDP chairman, Yunana Iliya, said nobody had the monopoly of violence.
Before the fracas, Al-Makura had answered lawmakers' questions on the floor of the Assembly.
Al-Makura had told the lawmakers that although their resolutions were advisory, his administration had been doing its best to ensure that the assembly's orders were respected.