Hoodlums set INEC headquarters in Enugu ablaze

Over six Toyota Hilux vehicles were completely burnt as hoodlums set fire to the Enugu headquarters of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday night.

The sixth vehicle, which also caught fire, was partially rescued by the State Fire Service. It was gathered that the invaders had set fire on one of the major offices, which was put out by fire service operatives. The incident happened around 10.p.m.

It was further learnt that a three-seater chair in the office and a few minor properties were burnt before the fire was put out.

The hoodlums, numbering about seven, reportedly stormed the INEC office in a mini bus. There was no casualty from the attack just as the timely arrival of the fire service personnel saved the day. When contacted, INEC’s Enugu Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Emeka Ononamadu, confirmed the incident.

“We are just meeting. I think I will speak with the press so we can get our facts right,” he said. Director, Enugu State Fire Service, Mr. Okwudiri Daniel Ohaa, who was at the scene, said his operatives responded fast to a distress call, which helped in handling the situation.

He explained that the hoodlums took time to put fire on the vehicles one after the other which explained why they burnt beyond repair.

Meanwhile, state police spokesman, ASP Samuel Ndukwe, said the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Police Command, CP Mohammed Ndatsu Aliyu, who immediately visited the scene alongside heads of other security agencies in the state, had ordered the emplacement of adequate security within the precincts of the office and the launch of a full-scale investigation to unravel the motive behind the act as well as fish out the assailants.