By INEC Office On Fire As Hoodlums Break In, Disrupt Results Collation
Updated information reaching BlackBox Nigeria confirms that gunmen suspected to be political thugs invaded an INEC office in Ijebu Ijesha, Osun State in the early hours of Sunday, the morning after the elections.
According to the State’s Police PRO, Folashade Odoro, the thugs invaded the building around 3am moments after results were collated and the Ad-hoc staff were relaxing. She disclosed that they were however repelled by security agents on duty who confronted and chased them away.
She also added that while the thugs invaded the office, the generating set used by the office went on fire and burnt several ballot boxes and other materials kept outside.
“At about 3.30am on Sunday, some hoodlums wielding guns and firing ‘sporadically’ attempted raiding the INEC office at Ijebu-Ijesa.
“In the process, the generator kept outside at the commission’s office caught fire and subsequently affected some empty ballot boxes and mats kept outside.
“The assailants were however repelled and the situation was brought under control. An intensified effort is being made to round up the culprits.”
Also speaking on the incident, an official of INEC, Stephen Ojewande in his chat with TheCable confirmed the attack on staff of the Commission in Ijebu Ijesha and stated that some of them were injured during the invasion.
“Our officials from Ijebu Ijesha (in Oriade LGA) were about heading to Osogbo this morning when they were attacked. They had electoral materials with them, including ballot papers,” he said.
“Nobody was killed; those who sustained injuries are being treated. The results(papers and all) are still intact. The hoodlums didn’t get their hands on that.”
