“We Lost Valuables In Ogun, Osun Inferno – INEC

By Ayodele Oni

Two Local Government offices of the Independent National Electoral  omission, (INEC) in Ogun and Osun states were Thursday attacked by suspected hoodlums, that set them ablaze.

Affected are offices in Abeokuta South Local Government Area and

in Ede-South Local Government Area of Osun state

It was gathered that the fire started early hours on Thursday but the prompt intervention of fire service department in the state which prevented the incident from spreading from the conference hall, where it started to other sections.

Some hoodlums, suspected to be arsonists had set ablaze an Abeokuta South Local Government’s office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) located at Iyana Mortuary in the Abeokuta metropolis early morning on Thursday.

It was gathered that the hoodlums, about eight in number, had gained entrance into the Abeokuta South INEC office by jumping over the perimeter fence and set the INEC building on fire from the back, having soaked some pieces of foam mattress in petrol and thrown same onto the building at different angles to put up the INEC office in flame.

In Osun, findings at the scene of the incident at Oke-Iresi area of the town, revealed that unknown persons set the building on fire using bread soaked with petroleum otherwise known as bread bomb.

Reacting to the incidents, in a statement, INEC national commissioner for information, Festus Okoye “notes that the attack was carried out by unidentified persons that overpowered the security personnel on duty and set the entire building ablaze.

“The main building and all the Commission’s movable assets in the office were destroyed.

“Materials affected include 904 ballot boxes, 29 voting cubicles, 30 megaphones, 57 election bags, 8 electric power generators and 65,699 uncollected Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs).

“Similarly, the INEC office in Ede South Local Government Area of Osun state was attacked and set ablaze.

“The incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday, 10th of November, 2022 when some unidentified persons attacked the building and set a portion of it ablaze.

“Fortunately, the damage  was limited to a section of the building and only some furniture items were destroyed.”