Another office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) in Enugu State, South East Nigeria came under heavy attack by suspected arsonists.
The electoral body’s Igboeze North Local Government Area office in the Northern Senatorial zone of the State, where Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi hails from is the latest in what appears to be a series of coordinated attacks on INEC facilities in Enugu State.
The State INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Emeka Ononamadu has confirmed the incident, noting that there were no casualties.
Local sources told AIT that the building housing the offices situated at the Council headquarters, Ogurute was set on fire after heavily armed gunmen overpowered security guards on duty, late Sunday night.
It was gathered that before security personnel and the fire service from Nsukka could arrive, most of the structures had been completely razed.
No fewer than 748 ballot boxes, 240 voting cubicles, office furniture and other equipment were reportedly destroyed.
Police in Enugu in a statement, Monday afternoon called it a fire incident, without any reference to attacks on the facilities.
Police spokesman, DSP Daniel Ndukwe claimed that Police operatives in the area had promptly mobilized and put off the fire before it could cause any damage.
Igboeze North and its neighbouring Igboeze South Council Areas of Enugu State had been under attacks lately by suspected gunmen, leading to the State government imposing a curfew and banning commercial motorcyclists in the affected local government areas.
It is unclear the motive behind the frequent attacks on INEC facilities by suspected arsonists in the Enugu North senatorial zone of the State, though the Police said they are investigating the incidents.
Editor, Omor Bazuaye
