SECURITY operatives have vacated the National Assembly (NASS) after about 10 hours of blockade of the complex.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the operatives vacated the premises at exactly 2.46 p.m.

They opened the entrance to the National Assembly and left few hours after the news of the sack of Mr Lawal Daura, Director-General of the Department of State Security Service (DSS) filtered in.

The atmosphere at the National Assembly earlier on Tuesday was charged as security operatives refused some lawmakers, newsmen and staff of the National Assembly entry into the complex.

The operatives, in their numbers, barricaded the entrance to the complex as early as 7 a.m. when workers were resuming work.

The Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, consequently directed the termination of Daura’s appointment some hours after his men blockaded the complex.

Osinbajo, in a statement by Mr Laolu Akande, his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, directed him to hand over to the most senior officer of the Service until further notice.

Although no reason was given for his sack in Akande’s statement, it is believed to be connected with his role in the NASS blockade.

Daura retired from the SSS in 2013, having reached the statutory retirement age of 60 but was recalled by President Muhammadu Buhari to head the organisation on July 2, 2015.

Daura, the sixth director-general of the SSS, one of the three security agencies created out of the defunct National Security Organisation in 1986, succeeded Ita Ekpenyong.

Before the sack was announced, Osinbajo had summoned the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, and Mr Daura, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

NAN gathered that the two security chiefs who arrived Aso Rock at different times, were to update the acting president on security developments, including the blockade of the NASS.

Meanwhile, staff members went agog as the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, arrived in the lobby of the NASS.

His supporters, including senators and House of Representatives members were seen cheering him as he sat with them for few minutes at the lobby. (NAN)

– Aug. 7, 2018 @ 17:15 GMT |