For the second time in four days, an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been razed, this time in Achi Street, Independence Layout, Enugu.
This incident is coming days after the INEC office in Obollo-Afor, Udenu LGA of the state was also razed
While confirming the incident, Mohammed Aliyu, the state commissioner of police said the fire outbreak occurred on Sunday night, and has ordered the deployment of adequate security within the precincts of the INEC office complex.
He also ordered an investigation into the incident.
“Yet to be identified armed miscreants on Sunday, May 16, at about 8:30 p.m., attempted to set the Enugu Headquarters of the INEC ablaze but were stiffly resisted by joint security operatives, who swiftly mobilised to the scene,” Aliyu said.
“The Enugu State Fire Service personnel that promptly responded to calls helped in quenching the fire, which had already set on five vehicles and two cushions within the office complex.”
Okwudili Ohaa, chief fire officer of the state, said the timely intervention of the fire service saved the INEC headquarters from burning down completely.
Ohaa said five INEC operational vehicles were completely burnt and one was partially burnt.
He added that the firefighters were able to put out the fire by 10:30pm.
“Our timely intervention saved INEC headquarters Enugu from burning completely,” Ohaa said.
“We were able to quench the fire immediately as it tried to spread to the main building of the INEC Headquarters.
“It only gutted two seats, probably visitors’ seats at the corridors upstairs.”
It would be recalled that the offices of the commission in Akwa Ibom and Abia states were also razed earlier in the month.
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