Hoodlums set Ogun INEC office ablaze

Suspected arsonists have reportedly set ablaze an office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at Iyana Mortuary, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Sources said the hoodlums, numbering about eight, had jumped over the fence into the premises and set fire to the INEC building.

The security guard at the facility, Azeez Hamzat, was said to have made a distress call to the police around 1am on Thursday  over the incident.

The arsonists were said to have soaked loaves of bread with petrol and thrown them into the building.

It was learnt that policemen from Ibara division were mobilized to the scene, while firefighters put out the fire.

Our correspondent gathered that the Registration Area Officer’s office and the conference room were affected by the inferno.

A source hinted that non-sensitive materials were also affected by the fire.

The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Niyi Ijalaye, confirmed the incident.

He 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. The security agencies are doing their very best. We are meeting again later today to come up with other strategies (toward securing our facilities).”

(Daily Trust)