Nigeria’s Acting president, Yemi Osinbajo, has fired the head of the Department of Security Services,a local intelligence agency directly under the Presidency.
Lawal Daura was axed in connection with a temporary blockade at the premises of the National Assembly complex in Abuja. He was subsequently arrested and detained by police officers.
Reports say he was detained for endangering national security with the siege on the Assembly.
The action of the armed, masked operatives raised tension as opposition lawmakers accused the government of an assault on democracy.
Security forces temporarily blocked the entrance to Nigeria’s parliament yesterday, preventing lawmakers and others from entering for up to an hour.
Mr Osinbajo is acting as president in the absence of President Muhammadu Buhari who is currently on a ten-day vacation in London.