The Nigerian police have described Monday’s incident at the Abuja home of Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu as burglary and not assassination as he claimed.
Police spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, made the statement on Tuesday.
Mr Moshood added that four policemen, who were on duty at the time of the invasion been arrested.
Preliminary investigation carried out so far did not reveal assassination attempt on the life of the Dep Senate President,Sen. Ike Ekweremadu and his family but a case of Burglary.However, investigation is still ongoing to determine if there is any other motive behind the offence
— Nigeria Police Force (@PoliceNG) November 6, 2018
A member of the Civil Defence Corp on duty there is also under arrest.
Also arrested is one Mohammed Yusuf from Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State. Another person simply identified as Ali had been declared wanted by the police in connection with the incident.
The police statement reads: “The residence of Deputy Senate President on No 2, Jim Nwobodo Street, APO Legislative Quarters, was broken into by Mohammed Yusuf of Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State, who was arrested at the scene and now in police custody along with one Ali (other name unknown), who escaped from the scene at about 0430hrs, November 6, 2018.
“The police have commenced investigation into the crime and the principal suspect Mohammed Yusuf of Kaura Namoda has volunteered confessional statement after interrogation, admitting to the crime and mentioned one Ali (other name unknown) now at large, who escaped from the scene, to have carried out the crime along with him.”
It added: “There was no delay in police intervention in the incident that occurred in the residence of the Deputy Senate President.
“Four police personnel and one personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps on duty at the residence of the Deputy Senate President at the time of the incident have been arrested and currently in detention for investigation for negligent acts and dereliction of duty.”
The police spokesman added that preliminary investigation carried out so far did not reveal assassination attempt on the life of the Deputy Senate President and his family, “but a case of burglary”.
“However, investigation is still ongoing to determine, if there is any other motive behind the offence. The same suspects had earlier at about 0300Hrs broken into the residence of one Mr. Haliru Adamu of No. 38 Denis Osadebey Crescent, APO Legislative quarters, where they stole phones, jewelleries and other valuables before proceeding to the residence of the Deputy Senate President,” the statement added.
There was no delay in Police intervention in the incident that occurred in the residence of the DSP. 4 Police personnel and 1 personnel of the NSCDC on duty at the residence of the DSP at the time of the incidence have been arrested and currently in detention for investigation.
— Nigeria Police Force (@PoliceNG) November 6, 2018
Ekweremadu has, however, rebuffed the force report, while insisting the incident was an attempt to take his life.
He said, “It was about 4:00 a.m. this morning (Monday morning) that some people evaded the security in my house and got all the way to my room where I was sleeping with my wife.
“There was a struggle. There was a fight with heavy commotion. And by the grace of God, we eventually caught one of them and the rest escaped.”
