An office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at Iyana Mortuary, Abeokuta, Ogun State, has been set ablaze by suspected hoodlums.
It was reported that the hoodlums numbering about eight, had jumped over the fence into the premises and set fire to the INEC building. They reportedly soaked loaves of bread with petrol and threw them into the building.
The security guard at the facility, Azeez Hamzat, reportedly made a distress call to the police around 1 am
on Thursday, November 10, over the incident.
Policemen from the Ibara division were mobilized to the scene, while firefighters put out the fire.
The Registration Area Officer’s office and the conference room were affected by the inferno. It was also learned that non-sensitive materials were also affected.
The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Niyi Ijalaye, said;
“It is correct that our office was set on fire. The police are investigating. 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. Security agencies are doing their very best. We are meeting again later today to come up with other strategies (toward securing our facilities).”