A mysterious fire, on Thursday, razed down the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Abeokuta South local Government area of Ogun State.
The INEC office, located at Iyana Mortuary axis of Abeokuta metropolis, was allegedly set ablaze by some hoodlums numbering about eight, who scaled the perimeter fence into the premises before setting the facility on fire in the early hours of Thursday.
A source in the area, which pleaded anonymity, confided in LEADERSHIP that the hoodlums soaked several loaves of bread with petrol, which they threw at the building from different points to light up the facility.
The source further disclosed that residents of neighbouring buildings surrounding the INEC office heard the security guard on duty, Azeez Hamzat, making distress calls to the Police as well as other security agencies in the State around 1am, soliciting for possible assistance over the incident.
Police operatives from the Ibara Divisional Headquarters were, however, said to have mobilised operatives to the scene while contacting fire fighters, who raced to the scene to put out the fire.
Investigation at the facility revealed that the Commission’s store, the Registration Area Officer’s office and the conference room were razed down alongside some non-sensitive materials in the building, but no life was lost.
Reacting to the incident, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Niyi Ijalaye, who expressed shock over the incident, said theP
Police was already 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.
When contacted, the State Police Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Abimbola Oyeyemi, who promised to get back to our correspondent on the matter, could not do so even as at the time of filing this report.
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