Senator Dino Melaye, Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District, says policemen attached to him have been taken away after a standoff with security operatives on Monday.
Melaye was earlier arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on his way to Morocco by immigration officers on the order of the police.
He reportedly escaped from detention in a curious manner, leading to a siege of his Abuja residence by no fewer than 15 armed policemen.
Tweeting later in the night, Melaye said a commissioner of police came and took away all his policemen with their arms and that there is a plan to kill him.
All my policemen have been taken away with their arms. One CP came and took them away. There is also a plan to set me up again. But in God I trust. Truth will always prevail
— Senator Dino Melaye (@dino_melaye) April 23, 2018
We are in a civil society. No warrant and case is in court yet this lawlessness. I’m a responsible NIGERIAN and law abiding. There is a plan to kill me and I know about it. We are not in a banana Republic. I can not be silenced. @BBCBreaking AFRICA @BBCBreaking
— Senator Dino Melaye (@dino_melaye) April 23, 2018
Melaye had tweeted earlier that over 30 heavily armed policemen had laid siege to his Maitama, Abuja residence of Senator Dino Melaye to arrest him.
Over 30 heavily armed fierce looking mobile police men have just stormed My residence in Maitama, Abuja.
All roads leading to House has been condoned off, as heavy mobile police men blocked entry & exit of the road. They currently laid siege on in and around The house.— Senator Dino Melaye (@dino_melaye) April 23, 2018
The security operatives blocked one end of the street with a Toyota Hiace bus with tinted glasses and Abuja number plate, RSH 193 TP, and a pick-up at the other end.
My house under siege pic.twitter.com/unw16Mr29h
— Senator Dino Melaye (@dino_melaye) April 23, 2018
My gate blocked pic.twitter.com/Z6xn87nBR9
— Senator Dino Melaye (@dino_melaye) April 23, 2018
They also prevented persons in the building from going out, but later allowed family members, friends and guests to enter and exit the premises.
Some lawmakers, however, came on a solidarity visit.
The lawmakers were the Minority Whip, Senator Philip Aduda; Deputy Minority Whip, Senator Biodun Olujimi; Senator Aidoko Ali, Senator Rafiu Ibrahim and Senator Isa Misau.
Addressing journalists at the venue, Aduda, condemned the development.
He said he had visited the house in order to report back to the presiding and principal officers of the Senate.
Aduda said, “Some of us came here with a view to reporting to the presiding officers and principal officers on what we have seen.
“I will report appropriately on what I saw, but I don’t believe this should happen.”
Speaking on the development Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Adeniran Aremu, said Melaye was indicted for possession of illegal firearms and had refused to honour police summons over the alleged crime.
“We have invited him twice, but he refused to honour our summons, that is why we have sent our men to arrest him. They are at his residence and they will not leave until they have apprehended him,” he said.
The policemen were still at Melaye’s house as at 8pm on Monday.
