This action is an act of treason, as it is an attempt to overthrow a branch of the federal government of Nigeria by force, and it must be treated as such."The Senate has asked all security agencies to mobilise their personnel to retrieve “the mastermind and the perpetrators of this act”.

Senate spokesman Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi said the protesters were led by suspended Ovie Omo-Agege, a suspended senator.He described the mace as the “symbol of authority” of Nigeria’s upper chamber.

Nigeria’s parliament has two maces – one for the Senate and one for the House of Representatives.This is the one for the lower house: