By Umar Yusuf

Yola—Suspected political thugs yesterday invaded the Adamawa State House of Assembly Complex in a protest march.

The armed thugs, who stormed the House in four vehicles and unspecified number of motor bikes completely took the security operatives within the complex by surprise as they pretended to be law abiding citizens visiting the lawmakers.

An eyewitness told Vanguard at the premises of the House that on reaching the premises, the thugs started throwing stones and other missiles at any vehicle in sight and in the process smashed and vandalised several cars before security operatives within the Assembly complex.

In the ensuing confusion, workers and the legislators trapped in the premises of the assembly scampered for safety as they attempted to escape through safety exits.

MOPOL respond

The Police post within the House of Assembly could not contain the rampaging youths in their hundreds before a detachment of mobile Police was dispatched to the area to quell the rioters. Four of the suspected thugs were apprehended.

Some people in nearby areas sustained minor injuries in the ensuing melee.

The new Speaker of the Assembly, Mr. Nathaniel Gibson, who assumed office barely 24 hours before the incident, could not be reached for his comments on the invasion.

However, some of the legislators who spoke to newsmen observed that such incidents were unusual in a democratic system, but warned that protests should be separated from violent attacks.

PDP factions clash

Elsewhere in Yola, the state capital, factions of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) clashed and some casualties were recorded. It was not clear what actually sparked off the clash. But eyewitness believed that the rival groups belong to Murtala Nyako and Atiku Abubakar.

Adamawa State Police Command confirmed the two incidents as it assured that security was being beefed up to prevent the situation from assuming a threat to peace.

Police spokesperson, Altime Daniel (ASP), said all DPO and Sectional heads have been put on red alert to contain any threat from any quarter or group.