The premises of the Benue State House of Assembly (BSHO) was on Friday sealed by heavily armed mobile policemen.
No reason was given for the action but members were prevented from going into the House.
A source at the Assembly disclosed that the decision by the police to prevent members from gaining access to the Assembly had to do with the conflict over the impeachment of the former speaker, Mr. Terkimbir Ikyange earlier in the week.
However, Ikyange had kicked against his impeachment, insisting that the process of his removal was illegal.
He was however suspended on Friday after a motion was moved by the Majority Leader, Mr. Avine Agbom, and backed by 18 other lawmakers who held plenary at the old banquet hall of the Benue State Government House Makurdi.
The lawmakers accused Ikyange of high handedness and bringing the House to disrespute.
They also called on the Commissioner of Police to immediately order his men to vacate the Assembly complex as there were no security threats to lives and property.
The police had blocked the main entrance of the state House of Assembly, preventing the 22 lawmakers who impeached Ikyange from gaining access to the building.
The lawmakers then attempted to enter the chamber through another gate behind the assembly complex, but met another police blockade there.
This led to a heated exchange with a Deputy Commissioner of Police, Tajudeen Bakare, who led the operation.
Bakare told the lawmakers that the information available to him indicated that there would be a breakdown of law and order.
The 22 Assembly members later briefed journalists, insisting that the impeachment process met all the constitutional requirements.
