The Nasarawa State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, yesterday confirmed the arrest of 22 suspects and a fake policeman in connection with anti-impeachment riot in Lafia, the state capital, on Thursday.

He said the police and other security agencies had launched a manhunt for four suspects, who were said to be the masterminds of the protest.

Although he said nobody was killed during the protest, he admitted that two people sustained injuries.

He said those wounded were treated at Agu hospital and had been discharged.
He said while five shops and a residential apartment were vandalised, a vehicle was burnt by the rioters.

He, however, confirmed the recovery of a locally-made pistol, some ammunition, knives and dangerous weapons from some of the suspects.

Idris, who made the disclosures at a briefing after a Joint Security Meeting, asked those fleeing the state to return.

He said: “We have been getting information that people in and around Lafia have started to flee their homes based on media reports

“I wish to appeal to the media to verify their information before going public. Any misinformation can cause panic and escalate the crisis.”

As at press time, preliminary investigation revealed that the protest culminated in a bloody clash between Eggon and Gwandara youths at Tundun Gwandara part of Lafiahe Governor of Nasarawa State, Meanwhile, the state governor, Alhaji Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, yesterday said he had not been served an impeachment notice by the State House of Assembly.

The governor, who had a three-minute interview with our correspondent before leaving Abuja for Lafia, said he was not a corrupt leader as being insinuated by the State House of Assembly.

He said: “As I am talking to you, I have not been served the impeachment notice by the House of Assembly as required by the 1999 Constitution and the law of the land.

“So, it is not true at all to assume or claim that I had received the impeachment notice. Some people are just insinuating that I had been served.

“The House of Assembly can also not lay claim to substituted service on me because to do so, it must seek the leave of a court of competent jurisdiction.

“There is no record that the Assembly has secured any order from a court of competent jurisdiction for substituted service.”

On the 16 offences leveled against him by the House of Assembly, Al-Makura said: “I am not corrupt; I have not mismanaged the funds of the state, not to talk of diverting any allocation.

“I have served the people of Nasarawa to the best of my ability. The fact that they are overwhelmingly against the impeachment proceedings initiated by the Assembly confirmed that the people of the state are pleased with me.”

Asked of his next step, the governor said: “I have been consulting with different groups, the consultation is still ongoing.”

Governor Al-Makura’s clarifications came against the backdrop of revelations that some stakeholders are pushing for the probe of some members of the Assembly over their roles in the N30 billion bond obtained by the state.

It was gathered that the stakeholders are seeking the intervention of anti-graft agencies, following indications that the disagreement between the governor and some of the lawmakers had to do with the alleged desire for more “perks” from the N30billion bond.

A reliable source said: “There is more to the impeachment proceedings against Al-Makura than meet the eye. The governor had sharp disagreement with the lawmakers on conditions the Assembly gave him before the state could go for N30billion bond.

“This is why stakeholders have agreed to call on anti-graft agencies to probe the lawmakers’ roles on how the bond was approved. There were a lot of dirty undercurrents and demands on the governor.

“There were allegations that some of the lawmakers asked for five to 10 per cent cut of the N30billion bond before they could approve it.

“The stakeholders may also ask Al-Makura to open up on what transpired between him and the Assembly when the state was seeking the N30billion bond.”

VICTORCIZA: arrest them and make sure they face the full wrath of the law.
it is the constitutional right of law makers to impeach any governor found wanting in his duty!! why the protest?

sammieguze: Trampling on human rights anyow.... Mtcheeew

patriotic007: a governor who does not have the backing of his assembly but instead follows tinubu and buhari up and down deserves to be impeached

patriotic007: a governor who does not have the backing of his assembly but instead follows tinubu and buhari up and down deserves to be impeached

ABUGEORGE: Nigerians are d problem of nigeria especially d youth. You can imagine some youth comment here shows we dont even value our country. No more freedom for any and you said we have president. One thing is sure dat d president cant deceive everyone. Our president dont deserve nigeria respect cos d president dont respect nigeria. President breaking d law. Removing performing governors cos dey dont want to be part of d evils dey are doing. Am so sorry for d south south who come here to rant anyhow as dey wish, your oil money is wat your president is using in impeaching and you people will come here to say northerner are enjoying niger delta oil money. Dont worry d future will tell you more about your president cos some day is impeachment will commence. Who is more corrupt than our president himself and pdp calcus

patriotic007: a governor who does not have the backing of his assembly but instead follows tinubu and buhari up and down deserves to be impeached

ABUGEORGE: Nigerians are d problem of nigeria especially d youth. You can imagine some youth comment here shows we dont even value our country. No more freedom for any and you said we have president. One thing is sure dat d president cant deceive everyone. Our president dont deserve nigeria respect cos d president dont respect nigeria. President breaking d law. Removing performing governors cos dey dont want to be part of d evils dey are doing. Am so sorry for d south south who come here to rant anyhow as dey wish, your oil money is wat your president is using in impeaching and you people will come here to say northerner are enjoying niger delta oil money. Dont worry d future will tell you more about your president cos some day is impeachment will commence. Who is more corrupt than our president himself and pdp calcus

Leebeedo:

You must be very f00lish. For your information, impeachment notice is just like query. Why can't Almakura respond to the allegations? why did he run to Abuja to cut corners? Imagine the f00l of a governor using millions of local government funds for DTA for himself and his wife and you're here typing rubbish with those leprosy eaten fingers of yours. Its your kind of youth that destroys this country.

tit: kill them all!
hand them over to Ombatse!!!!

aumeehn:
GINDIN UWArKA ne ba OMBATSE bah...shege ARNEN banza!!!! Sai munci gutsun Uwarku ai Arnan banza kawai!!

aumeehn: Labaran Maku and Gej re behind all diz.....labaran maku want to be d governor of nasarawa datz y dey re trying to impeach d gov....and secondly the xtians in the state want labaran maku to rule bcus he is also an infidel........OMBATSE wlhi sai kaci uwarka!!! BOKO haram na zuwa zakayi bayani

patriotic007: a governor who does not have the backing of his assembly but instead follows tinubu and buhari up and down deserves to be impeached