Armed hoodlums have invaded an office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osun State, carting away three packs of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
The event occurred on Sunday at Oyinlola DC Primary School, Ward 2, in Odo-Otin Local Government Area when officials were doling out the cards to people.
The Osun State Police Command stated that roughly ten armed thugs attacked the site and fired sporadically into the air to disperse the crowd before carting away the voter cards.
Gbadebo, an eyewitness, said: “They shot into the air and disrupted the exercise. several of us nearby ran in different places and they went directly to where those INEC personnel were keeping the PVCs and made away with several packs”.
The attack was confirmed by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, who said the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, denounced the incident.
The Police Commissioner has ordered a full investigation and committed tactical and intelligence resources to catch the culprits.
“Efforts have been stepped up to arrest the perpetrators and recover the stolen PVCs,” Ojelabi said.
Political leaders have strongly condemned the attack. The Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, described it as a major assault on the nation’s democracy.
He warned against any efforts to intimidate voters saying: “Your vote is your voice and every lawful effort will be made to ensure that every legitimate vote is protected and counted”.
The police are urging the public to remain calm and cooperate with the current investigation.
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