Arsonists on Sunday morning set on fire the office of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State.
It was gathered that the arsonists scaled through the perimeter fence to access the premises.
The fire damaged a section of the office before the quick response of the security agencies comprising the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) as well the Enugu State Fire Service and the Awgu Local Government Neighbourhood Watch.
A statement issued on Sunday by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee of INEC, Festus Okoye, confirmed the incident, adding that a report had been made officially to the police for investigation.
Okoye said the identity or motives of the attackers were unknown.
The statement titled ‘Attack on INEC Local Government Office in Enugu State’ read: “Our Resident Electoral Commissioner for Enugu State, Mr. Emeka Ononamadu, reported an attack on the INEC office in Awgu Local Government Area of the State.
“The building was set ablaze this morning, Sunday 19th September 2021, resulting in extensive damage to mainly the stores section where election materials are kept.
“Fortunately, all movable election materials had been evacuated following recent attacks on our offices in the State. There are no casualties in the incident.”
He recalled that the incident was the first since the last attack on the commission’s facilities four months ago.
