Nine persons on Thursday sustained various degrees of injury following an invasion by a gang of armed hoodlums who invaded the legislative chambers of the Ughelli South local government council during a legislative session by the lawmakers.

The hoodlums, who were armed with guns, cutlasses, battle axes and other dangerous weapons, freely used them on their victims including five councillors, three staff of the council and the Clerk of the House who was stabbed on the head. It took the timely intervention of a team of military personnel who came to the rescue of the lawmakers, apprehended 18 of the hoodlums and handed them over to the police at the Ughelli Area Command for prosecution.

Giving details of the incident, the Leader of the House, December Saromare said that the hoodlums also made away with the mace of the House after smashing and destroying windows, furniture and other items within the chambers. Confirming the arrest of the hoodlums, a senior police officer at the Ughelli Area Command who spoke on anonymity, said that suspects have confessed a top political office holder in the Ughelli South executive and three lawmakers in the council as the brains behind their attack on the lawmakers. According to the police source, “A blue and white coloured 12-seater bus with registration number JRT 455 XA and other dangerous weapons were recovered from the hoodlums.” (Vanguard)

•Photo shows gunmen.