Nigerian police recover Senate's stolen Mace

ABUJA, April 19 (Xinhua) -- The Nigerian police on Thursday said the symbol of authority of the Senate, which went missing after some thugs invaded its building in Nigeria's capital of Abuja on Wednesday, has been recovered.

The Mace, carted away by the thugs while a plenary session was in progress, was found where it was "abandoned under the flyover bridge before the city gate in Abuja where a passerby saw it and alerted the police," a spokesman said.

The Nigerian government has ordered security beefed up at the National Assembly, following Wednesday's invasion.

The police said an investigation into the incident was still ongoing to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The thugs which invaded the Senate building had overwhelmed the security personnel, ran into a waiting vehicle outside the plenary hall and drove away in a commando-like manner, bearing with them the staff of office.

The Nigerian Senate described the act as "a sad assault on democracy."

Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, suspended last week by the leadership of the parliament, was alleged to be the sponsor of the sacrilege.

Omo-Agege, representing Nigeria's oil-rich Delta State, was arrested by the police on Wednesday, barely one hour after the mace was carted away.

Last week, the national lawmaker was suspended for 90 legislative days for challenging the sequence of next year's general election after it had been re-ordered by the parliament.

Omo-Agege had alleged the Senate of working against President Muhammadu Buhari who is running for a second term of office next year.

The suspended senator accompanied the thugs as they invaded the Senate building, seized the Mace and drove away, witnesses said.

Senate spokesman Abdullahi Sabi said the act is tantamount to treason. Enditem