Editor
More than 15 hours after the Idemili South Local Government office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ojoto, Anambra State was burnt by gunmen, the commission has come up with details of the attack.
In a statement signed by Festus Okoye, the National Commissioner & Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, the electoral body said the building was substantially damaged, while furniture and other items were destroyed, including non-sensitive materials recently delivered in readiness for the 2023 General Election.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelRecall that Prime Business Africa had reported that Police was alerted to the attack by the traditional ruler of the community, HRH Igwe Gerald Obunadike Mbamalu, at 3 a.m when the gunment arrived in white Hilux vehicle.
The traditional ruler had, in a telephone call with Prime Business Africa, revealed that he made a distress call to the District Police Officer in the area but did not get a positive response from him.
READ ALSO: Ojoto INEC Fire: I Called Police Early Enough – Traditional Ruler
The gunmnen after doing the damage to the INEC office proceeded to a police station in Nnobi, a nearby community, and killed a 16-year-old boy and inflicted serious bodily injury on the another 17-year-old girl.
READ ALSO: Gunmen In Anambra Attack Ojoto INEC Office, Nnobi Police Station, Kill 16-year-old
According to Okoye, “the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Anambra State, Dr. Queen Elizabeth Agwu, reported that our office in Idemili South Local Government Area (LGA) was attacked and set ablaze by unknown gunmen. The incident occurred in the early hours of today Wednesday 1st February 2023.”
“The building was substantially damaged. All furniture and other items were destroyed, including non-sensitive materials recently delivered in readiness for the 2023 General Election.
“Among the items lost to the inferno are 729 ballot boxes, 243 voting cubicles, 256 election bags, 11 megaphones, 1 electric power generator and large quantities of indelible ink and liquid gum.”
However, Okoye noted that uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) kept in the fireproof cabinet were not affected by the inferno.
“Similarly, no sensitive materials have been delivered to the LGA office.”
INEC insisted that “the destruction appears to have been coordinated, as the Nnobi Police Station in the LGA was similarly attacked.
“Despite this despicable incident, the Commission wishes to reassure the people of Idemili South LGA that contingency arrangement will be made to replace the materials and the Presidential and National Assembly elections will proceed on 25th February 2023 as scheduled, to be followed two weeks later by the State House of Assembly election.”
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
