The Edo State House of Assembly has cancelled its scheduled sitting after items suspected to be pellets from gunshots were discovered inside the assembly complex in Benin City, the legislature said on Wednesday.

The incident occurred on Tuesday when some members of the assembly were preparing for the first sitting of the year.

A hole was found in the roof of the assembly chamber, and items believed to be pellets were found on the seat of the Majority Leader, Jonathan Ibhamawu, according to the report.

Following the discovery, the Commissioner of Police in Edo State, Monday Agbonika, was invited to the complex to investigate the cause of the suspected gunshot pellets. Agbonika said his personnel would investigate the origin of the incident, the report said.

A statement issued later by Ibhamawu said the assembly had to postpone the sitting to allow security agencies to comb the chambers and provide a report on the matter.

He said the decision followed consultations with the Department of State Services (DSS) and police.

Ibhamawu said that, at the time of the discovery, members were already at the assembly complex preparing for the day’s proceedings.

He said that although officials were eager to begin the sitting, the leadership decided to postpone it to enable thorough security checks.

In briefing journalists, Ibhamawu said the incident was under investigation by security agencies. He said the assembly would resume sittings once a satisfactory report was received from the authorities.

He described the complex as calm and said the assembly was not distracted from its mandate.

The assembly’s first sitting for 2026 was disrupted as a result of the discovery and subsequent security review, officials confirmed.