Hoodlums Burn INEC Office

Ola ‘Kiya, Reporting

HOODLUMS have set office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abeokuta South Local Government Area of Ogun State on fire.

The INEC office is located at Iyana Mortuary area of the state capital and was seen in flames at the wee hours of Thursday.

Unconfirmed sources said hoodlums who were responsible for the dastardly act scaled the perimeter fence and torched the building.

The hoodlums, said to be about eight, allegedly soaked loaves of bread in petrol and threw same into the building from different direction before lighting up the facility.

It was gathered that the security guard on duty, Azeez Hamzat, made a distress call to the police around 1:00 a.m. as regards the development.

Operatives of the Ibara Division of the State Police Command were said to have been mobilized to the scene as well as fire fighters.

Stonix News reports that winner no life was lost, the fire affected the store, the registration area, other offices and the conference room, just as non-sensitive materials were also reportedly affected.

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

“It is correct that our office was set on fire. 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.