The Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) head office in Enugu state has been attacked by hoodlums.
It was gathered that the attack occurred late hours of Sunday night, where about 6 vehicles were razed down.
National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Barr. Festus Okoye, in a statement issued on Monday, described the attack as unfortunate.
He expressed that the constant attacks on the commission’s facilities are a threat to the nation’s electoral activities.
The statement read, “Last night Sunday 16th May 2021, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Enugu State, Emeka Ononamadu, reported an attack on the State Headquarters Office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Enugu.
“Some unidentified persons overpowered the security guard on duty around 9 pm and tried to set the entire building ablaze. The attention of the security agencies, as well as the Federal and State Fire Services in Enugu, was drawn to the unfolding situation and they responded swiftly.
“The attackers set the foyer ablaze, vandalised some offices in the main building and caused extensive damage to some of the Commission’s movable assets within the premises. Six (6) utility pick-up vehicles (Toyota Hilux) were burnt down while two (2) more were smashed and damaged.
“The security agencies who were at the scene have commenced an investigation. As we categorically mentioned in our earlier statements, the spate of attacks on the Commission’s facilities portends danger to national electoral activities.
“The commission is holding an emergency meeting with the RECs on Wednesday, 19th May 2021 and further statements will be released ahead of another emergency meeting with heads of all security agencies in the country under the auspices of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).”
This is the third attack on the Commission’s facility in the state.
