The office of the Independent National Electoral Commission in the Igboeze North Local Government Area, Enugu State has been burnt down by hoodlums.
Confirming the news, INEC’s National Commissioner, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, in a statement, on Monday, said the attack happened at 11:48pm on Sunday July 3, 2022.
It was gathered that the arsonists overpowered security guards and forced their way into the premises.
No casualties were reported in the attack, however, the commission stated that 748 ballot boxes and 240 voting cubicles as well as office furniture and equipment were destroyed.
“The arsonists overpowered the security guards, forced their way into the premises and set the building ablaze. Although no casualties were reported, 48 ballot boxes, 240 voting cubicles, office furniture and equipment were destroyed in spite of the best effort of the Enugu State Fire Service deployed from Nsukka,’ the statement read.
INEC also stated that it had yet to ascertain the status of voter registration machines as well as the Permanent Voter Cards locked up in the fireproof cabinet cabinet in the burnt office.
“The Commission is working to ascertain the status of voter registration machines for the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise as well as uncollected Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) locked up in the fireproof cabinet.”
The statement noted that similar attacks had been carried out on its offices in the Igboeze South and Udeni Local Government Areas as well as the Enugu State Headquarters of the commission all in May 2021.
