Bisina Somto, PBA Journalism MenteeThe Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has condemned attacks on its offices in Osun and Ogun States by suspected Hoodlums.
The commission’s offices in the two southwest states were set ablaze on Wednesday night.
Festus Okoye, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, confirmed the incidents in a statement released on Thursday, November 10, 2022.
According to Okoye, the fire at the INEC office in Abeokuta South Local Government Area of Ogun State occured around 1am, Thursday when “some unidentified persons overpowered the security personnel on duty and set the entire building ablaze.”
On the extent of the damage, Okoye said, “The main building and all the Commission’s movable assets in the office were destroyed. They include 904 ballot boxes, 29 voting cubicles, 30 megaphones, 37 election bags, 8 electric power generators and 65,699 uncollected Permmanent Voters Cards (PVCs).”
It was also gathered that the fire was set by unknown persons who used bread soaked in petrol.
Some of the exhibits recovered from the scene which the fire-fighters displayed include leftovers of the bread bomb, a face cap and a gallon of petrol.
The Ogun INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Niyi Ijalaye, confirmed the incident of the fire outbreak in Abeokuta, Ogun State. Ijalaye stated that the police are currently investigating the incident.
He said: “It is correct that our office was set on fire. The police are investigating. I do not know what to say. I’m in shock myself.
“We called the police and other security agencies at night. The fire brigade put the situation under control. The level of damage is still being assessed”.
“It is very shocking and untoward. The security agencies are doing their very best. We are meeting again later today to come up with other strategies (toward securing our facilities).”
In Osun, Okoye said the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Mutiu Agboke, reported that the commission’s office in Ede South Local Government Area was set ablaze in the early of Thursday, but fortunately, the intervention of the State’s Fire Service helped to limit the damage to a section of the building “and only some furniture items were destroyed.”
Okoye said the Nigerian Police and other security agencies have been informed of the incident and have commenced a full investigation.
“The attention of the Nigeria Police Force and other security and safety agencies has been drawn to the incidents and they have commenced investigation.
“With just 106 days to the 2023 General Election when the Commission has commenced the movement of materials to our offices nationwide, these simultaneous attacks are very worrisome indeed,” Okoye lamented.
These fire outbreaks, are coming four months after the incident in Ogrute, Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State.
According to INEC, 748 ballot boxes, 240 voting cubicles, office furniture and other equipment were destroyed.
Prime Business Africa had also reported that on Monday, May 2, there was a fire incident that ravaged INEC office in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State. According to INEC, the fire started at about 11pm but no casualty was recorded.
The commission also condemned the spate of attacks on supporters of different political parties since campaigns started.
“Similarly, the rising incidents of attacks on supporters of various political parties since since the commencement of campaigns barely two months ago and the use of hate and incendiary language by some politicians are extremely disturbing.
“Accordingly, the Commission has convened an emergency meting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) tomorrow Friday 11th November 2023 to discuss the disturbing trend,” added.
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