During leadership tussle at the Anambra State House of Assembly, a lawmaker Beverly Nkemdiche pleaded to be spared after police officers released tear gas canisters to disperse a crowd of protesters at the Assembly complex.
On Tuesday, November 13, 2018, Rita Maduagwu was impeached as the Speaker of the House for a host of alleged misconducts by 22 out of 30 members during plenary at the Anambra Assembly chamber
Maduagwu kicked against the impeachment and referred to the lawmakers that impeached her as ‘rascals’ whose actions she branded a “bundle of illegality”. She vowed that nobody can impeach her. Read the report HERE.
When the Assembly resumed on Thursday, November 15, 2018, policemen were stationed around the Assembly area from the Alex Ekwueme Square entrance of the complex as early as 8 am.
Despite the fact that workers of the complex and others were denied entrance, a crowd of supporters showed up reportedly in solidarity with Maduagwu.
Police officers soon shot tear gas canisters to disperse the crowd causing commotion, sending everyone running for safety from the smoke that filled the air.
According to Punch, a member of the Assembly, identified as Beverly Nkemdiche was one of the many people who was affected by the tear gas released by police officers. She pleaded in agony:
“They have killed me! I’m a member of the House. Please, don’t kill me.”
Beverly Nkemdiche was reportedly helped by security operatives out of the Complex.