Policemen yesterday laid siege to Abuja residence of Mr Dino Melaye, a Senator( APC, Kogi).

Melaye, arrested at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja around 7:30am yesterday ‘escaped’ from the custody of the immigration officials after about an hour.

Melaye was on his way to Morocco alongside Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, when immigration officials arrested him.

In a phone interview at about 7:50am, Melaye said, “I was at the departure lounge when they called me that my attention was needed by the officials of the Immigration. When I got there, they told me I’m under arrest on the request of the Police.”

Hours later, Melaye was at his residence at number 11 Sangha Street, Maitama, Abuja. Circumstances of his exit from the Airport security were not clear at the time of this report.

A source close to the Kogi lawmaker said, “He (Melaye) dribbled the immigration officials to escape from their net. They circled him and they were waiting for the police. I think that was when he left.”

Our correspondent reports that around 2p.m combat ready policemen barricaded both sides of the street. Two patrol vans were parked at one side, while a Toyoto Hiace bus was used to block the other side.

Policemen and plain cloth security men were seen around 7p.m when our correspondent left. By 6:40pm, a truckload of policemen arrived the street.

The phone number of Melaye was unreachable for further comment last night. A source said he was still inside his residence.

At the entrance of Melaye’s residence IDPs including children and women were seen. They were chanting, “Kariya ne, we will die for Dino”.

The atmosphere at the highbrow area was tense. The police had last month declared Melaye wanted over issues related to supply of guns to thugs in Kogi State.

On his Twitter handle, Melaye said around 9:30pm yesterday that; “All my policemen have been taken away with their arms. One CP came and took them away. There is also a plan to set me up again. But in God I trust. Truth will always prevail.”

Daily Trust