Abia State INEC office invaded by hoodlums.

Earlier, hoodlums attacked the state headquarters of the Independent National
Electoral Commission, INEC, in Enugu State, setting the foyer and six vehicles ablaze, while destroying two other vehicles.

In Abia, it was gathered that the bandits razed the main building of the police station, five patrol vans, six exhibit vehicles, motorcycles and tricycles parked at the station.

Geoffrey Ogbonna, was not successful as at the time of filing this report. The INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Barr. Festus Okoye disclosed the Sunday attack on their office in a statement issued yesterday in
Abuja.

“Last night, Sunday 16th May 2021, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, for Enugu State, Emeka Ononamadu, reported an attack on the state headquarters office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Enugu’, Okoye stated.

According to him, “some unidentified persons Overpowered the security personnel on duty around 9pm and tried to set the entire building ablaze.

The attention of the security agencies as well as the federal and state fire services in Enugu was drawn to the unfolding situation and they responded swiftly.

“The attackers set the foyer ablaze, vandalised some offices in the main building and caused extensive damage to some of the commission’s movable assets within the premises.

Former Chief Judge of Anambra State, Justice Paul Obidigwe was attacked during the clash, while three houses, including the house of a former Commissioner in the state, Dr. Christian
Madubuko, were burnt. Nine persons, who sustained injuries during the clash are still receiving treatment.

Secretary to the State Government, Professor Solo Chukwulobelu, who announced the imposition of the curfew said it was with immediate effect.
According to him, the curfew would run from 7pm to 6am until further notice, adding that security operatives have been given strict orders to enforce the curfew.

Meanwhile, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ikenga Tochukwu said normalcy had returned in the area.He said normalcy has been restored in the area and “our men are still on ground to ensure safety of lives and property. “So far, we have recovered three bodies which
have been deposited in the morgue. In a related development, the state government yesterday lifted the curfew imposed on six communities in the state.

The communities are Igbariam, Aguleri,
Umueri, Nteje, Awkuzu and Umunya. Secretary to Anambra State Government Professor Solo Chukwulobelu said the lifting of the curfew was because normalcy had returned to the affected
communities.