Tension in Edo Assembly as police investigate gunshot pellet in legislative chamber

The first plenary session of the Edo State House of Assembly after the Christmas and New Year break was abruptly disrupted, on Tuesday, following the discovery of a suspected gun pellet inside the legislative chamber.

The pellet, believed to have pierced through the roof of the chamber, triggered immediate security concerns and forced lawmakers to suspend proceedings while demanding a thorough investigation into the incident.

Addressing journalists at the Assembly Complex in Benin City, Ibhamawu Jonathan Aigbokhan, the Majority Leader, who represents Esan West Constituency on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), described the discovery as alarming and called for urgent action by Decurity Agencies.

He said the incident underscored potential security vulnerabilities within the Assembly and urged the Police to carry out discreet investigations to determine how the pellet got into the chamber.

According to him, members who had gathered for the day’s legislative business declined to proceed with plenary, insisting that the source and implications of the pellet must first be established.

The development heightened tension within the Assembly complex, with lawmakers expressing concerns over their safety and the security of the legislative environment.

Meanwhile, Monday Agbonika, Commissioner of Police in Edo State, was at the Assembly Complex with his team to assess the situation and commence investigations aimed at uncovering the circumstances surrounding the incident.

BusinessDay reports that Police authorities are yet to issue an official statement on their preliminary findings.