Three Killed As INEC HQ In Imo Attacked By Hoodlums

By Ayodele Oni

Continued attacks on the facilities of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), remain unabated as suspected hoodlums in the early hours of Monday attacked and burnt the Imo state headquarters of the Commission.

Report has it that the office, located along Port Harcourt road in Owerri, was besieged by the attackers, who wore Biafra- camouflage uniform around 2.00am.

However, luck ran against some of them as three were gunned down while one other was reportedly captured alive by policemen who rushed to the scene to repel the attack.

The Public Relations Officer, (PRO), of INEC in the state, Chinenye Chijioke-Osuji, confirmed the ugly development saying the attack was said to have happened between 2 am to 3 am Monday.

But She said only the building housing the Election and Political Party Monitoring Liason offices was attacked and part of the main building.

“It happened. You can come and see things for yourself. Not all the offices were attacked but one side was completely down.

“The Election and Political Party Monitoring Liason, building was attacked and part of the main building.”

However, eyewitnesses said the hoodlums, who were in a convoy of more than five vehicles “moved from the Okigwe road shooting sporadically and scaring the residents.”

Vehicles and offices were set ablaze by the hoodlums.

It was further gathered that serious exchange between the hoodlums and policemen who came to repel the attack, led to the death of three of them.

The bodies of the hoodlums were seen lying on the ground alongside Police- recovered arms and ammunition after they were neutralized.