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| Nigeria MP Mrakpor 'slapped by prison boss aide' | Nigeria MP Mrakpor 'slapped by prison boss aide' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The head of Nigeria's prisons service has been summoned to appear before parliament after his security guards allegedly slapped a female MP. | The head of Nigeria's prisons service has been summoned to appear before parliament after his security guards allegedly slapped a female MP. |
| Onyemaechi Mrakpor, 49, and a member of the lower house, told the BBC she was attacked for overtaking the motorcade of Peter Ezenwa Ekpendu on Wednesday. | |
| "One man banged at my car, slapped me and called me a prostitute," she said. | |
| Mr Ekpendu reportedly watched as the lawmaker was assaulted by his aides within the premises of the parliament. | Mr Ekpendu reportedly watched as the lawmaker was assaulted by his aides within the premises of the parliament. |
| Mrs Mrakpor said she was shocked and embarrassed by what happened and had written a formal complaint to the police. | |
| "I wondered if that could happen to me, what the other helpless Nigerians will be going through," she told the BBC's Focus on Africa radio programme. | |
| The opposition lawmaker, who represents a constituency in the southern Delta state, said the incident highlighted the way women and girls are treated in the country. | |
| Mrs Mrakpor was in tears when she reported the incident, one senior MP told parliament on Thursday. | |
| "This is the time we need to rally behind her not just as a member but as a woman," MP Femi Gbajabiamila said, The Herald newspaper reported. | "This is the time we need to rally behind her not just as a member but as a woman," MP Femi Gbajabiamila said, The Herald newspaper reported. |
| It is not clear when Mr Ekpendu, who has not yet reacted to the report, will face the MPs. | It is not clear when Mr Ekpendu, who has not yet reacted to the report, will face the MPs. |
| Nigerian officials often travel in large convoys, forcing other motorists to make way. There have been frequent accusations that those who refuse to pull over are assaulted. | Nigerian officials often travel in large convoys, forcing other motorists to make way. There have been frequent accusations that those who refuse to pull over are assaulted. |
| All heads of security agencies in the parliament have also been summoned to explain why they failed to protect the lawmaker. | All heads of security agencies in the parliament have also been summoned to explain why they failed to protect the lawmaker. |
| Beware of blue lights - Naziru Mikailu, BBC News | Beware of blue lights - Naziru Mikailu, BBC News |
| Driving along the roads of Nigeria's major cities, it is common to see a large convoy of senior government officials moving at high speed. | Driving along the roads of Nigeria's major cities, it is common to see a large convoy of senior government officials moving at high speed. |
| They often show scant respect for traffic rules. | They often show scant respect for traffic rules. |
| When you spot the blue lights flashing behind your car or hear the sirens, you know that you must give way regardless of the situation. | When you spot the blue lights flashing behind your car or hear the sirens, you know that you must give way regardless of the situation. |
| This often causes terrible accidents and lead to abuses of ordinary motorists. | This often causes terrible accidents and lead to abuses of ordinary motorists. |
| The country was shocked in September last year when the officials in the motorcade of a state governor allegedly assaulted a woman and her two children on a highway for not vacating the road for the politician's convoy on time. | The country was shocked in September last year when the officials in the motorcade of a state governor allegedly assaulted a woman and her two children on a highway for not vacating the road for the politician's convoy on time. |
| In most cases the individuals or the politicians and security forces responsible for these large convoys get away with it. | In most cases the individuals or the politicians and security forces responsible for these large convoys get away with it. |
| After coming to office last year, President Muhammadu Buhari ordered his convoy and security aides to abide by traffic rules and respect other motorists. | After coming to office last year, President Muhammadu Buhari ordered his convoy and security aides to abide by traffic rules and respect other motorists. |
| But it appears that the president's action is yet to convince some other top officials to change their minds. | But it appears that the president's action is yet to convince some other top officials to change their minds. |