Resident Commissioner, Independent National Electoral Commission in Enugu state, Emeka Ononamadu has revealed that only the Nigeria Security and Civil defense corps were on duty during the attack on INEC headquarters at the capital of Enugu state.
The INEC Boss in Enugu state made this known while briefing journalists in the morning over the attack revealing that it began about 9 O’Clock in the Night of Sunday 16th May 2021.
Emeka said the attackers estimated to be over twenty in number overpowered the two security agents on duty at the State Headquarters, and set their offices and operational vehicles on fire.
He noted that they tried to set the entire building ablaze but were not able to achieve their intention due to prompt intervention of the Enugu state service.
“The attackers set the foyer ablaze, vandalized some offices in the main building and caused extensive damage to some of the Commission’s movable assets within the premises” he added.
“Six (6) utility pick up vehicles (Toyota Hilux) were burnt down while two (2) more
were smashed and damaged and the security agencies who came to the scene have commenced investigation”
“As we categorically mentioned in our earlier statements, the spate of attacks on the
Commission’s facilities portend danger to national electoral activities, he warned”.
“The Commission is holding an emergency meeting with the Resident Electoral
Commissioners (RECs) on Wednesday 19th May 2021 and a further statement will be
released ahead of another emergency meeting with heads of all the security agencies
in the country under the auspices of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on
Election Security (ICCES)” he revealed.
Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Daniel Ndukwe confirmed the incident adding that the the incident happened around 8:30pm but the assailants were “stiffly resisted by joint security operatives.”
However, the distance between INEC Headquarters and Enugu state Government House, Enugu state House of Assembly and the office of the Chief Judge of the state is not up to three minutes drive.
