65,699 uncollected PVCs destroyed in Ogun INEC fire inferno

By Newslineglobal.com

Suspected hoodlums in the  early hours of Thursday, burnt the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office, .located at Iyana Mortuary area of the state capital, Abeokuta South local government area of Ogun State 

The office  was allegedly set on fire by suspected hoodlums, numbering about eight, who scaled the perimeter fence into the commission’s premises. They were said to have soaked loaves of bread with petrol and threw same into the building from different points to light up the facility.

A source, who pleaded anonymity, said the security guard on duty, Azeez Hamzat, made a distress call to the police around 1a.m., that the facility was on fire.

It was learnt that the police from Ibara division mobilised detectives to the scene, while contacting fire fighters, who raced to the scene to put out the fire.

It was further gathered that the store, the Registration Area Officer’s office and the conference room were affected by the inferno. Non- sensitive materials were also affected by the fire.“No life was lost and no injury was sustained in the fire,” the source said.

The State INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Niyi Ijalaye, described the incident as shocking.

“It is correct that our office may have been deliberately torched. The police are investigating the matter. I do not know what to say. I’m in shock myself.

”We called the police and other security agencies at night. The fire brigade put the situation under control. The level of damage is still being assessed.

“It is very shocking and untoward. The security agencies are doing their very best. We are meeting again later today to come up with other strategies toward securing our facilities,” Ijalaye said. In a statement,by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) 65,699 uncollected permanent voters cards(PVCs) were destroyed by the hoodlums.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *