INEC office burnt in Enugu

The office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State was on Sunday burnt by yet-to-be identified persons.

Its National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye, who confirmed the incident via a statement, explained that the attack, which took place in the early hours of the day, resulted in extensive damage to the stores section where election materials are kept.

Okoye said that all movable election materials had been evacuated following recent attacks on the commission’s offices in the state, adding that there were no casualties in the incident.

“The identity or motives of attackers are unknown while the incident has been reported to the Nigeria Police Force for investigation.

“This unfortunate incident is the first since the last attack on our facilities four months ago in May 2021”, the statement said.

He lauded the prompt response of the security agencies comprising the police, the Army, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps as well the Enugu State Fire Service and the Awgu Local Government Neighbourhood Watch.

Yesterday’s incident is the latest in a series of attacks on INEC offices especially in the South-East and South-South regions.

The commission’s headquarters in Enugu was in May  burnt down, three days after another office in Obollo-Afor, Udenu LGA of the state, was razed.

INEC had warned that repeated attacks on its offices will affect its preparations for the 2023 general election.

The commission had said sensitive and non-sensitive materials, including generators and card readers, were lost to these attacks.