BREAKING: INEC Office Set Ablaze In Enugu | PHOTOS/DETAILS

BREAKING: INEC Office Set Ablaze In Enugu | PHOTOS/DETAILS

Hoodlums at the late hours of Sunday, July 3, 2022 set ablaze office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in the Igboeze North Local Government Area of Enugu State.

Confirming the attack in a statement on Monday, Festus Okoye Esq, the National Commissioner, Information and Voter Education Committee, INEC said the hoodlums invaded the facility, overpowering security guards on duty before setting the facility ablaze.

The statement read in part;

The arsonists overpowered the security guards, forced their way into the  premises and set the building ablaze. Although no casualties were reported, 748 ballot boxes, 240 voting cubicles, office furniture and equipment were destroyed in spite of the best effort of the Enugu State Fire Service deployed from Nsukka. The Commission is working to ascertain the status of voter registration machines for the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise as well as uncollected Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) locked up in the fireproof cabinet.

The incident has been reported to the Nigeria Police for investigation and further action.

The attack, coming in the middle of the voter registration exercise and other preparations for 2023 General Election, is worrisome. It will be recalled that on 23rd May 2021, our office in the neighboring Igboeze South Local Government Area was attacked in a similar manner by unknown gunmen. This followed earlier attacks on Udenu Local Government Area office on 13th May 2021 and the State Headquarters in Enugu on 16th May 2021. The Commission has since substantially recovered from these attacks and resumed normal activities there, including the CVR and collection of PVCs.

The Commission will continue to work with the security agencies and the emergency services to protect our facilities.”