Again, Gunmen Set INEC Office In Imo on Fire, Abduct Construction Workers

Gunmen set fire to an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) building in Imo State before capturing and rescuing some construction workers.

“The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Imo State, Professor Sylvia Uchenna Agu, reported that our office in Orlu Local Government Area was attacked. The incident occurred yesterday Thursday 1st December 2022,” INEC National Commissioner Festus Okoye said in a statement on Friday.

“The building, which is undergoing extensive renovation following an earlier attack, was vandalised and partially set ablaze. Three out of seven construction workers were abducted but later released.”

Anambra: Unknown Gunmen Attack Police Station, INEC Office In Awka

Okoye stated that the damage would have been much worse if the police had not been swift in mobilizing their men to the area.

“This is one attack too many. The Commission once again expresses its concern over the spate of attacks on its facilities and the negative consequences on our preparations for the 2023 General Election,” he added.

INEC has warned that the attacks could have an impact on the election next year.

Attacks on INEC offices have been regular across Nigeria, as the country prepares for elections early next year.

Several INEC offices were attacked in November, prompting the Commission to warn of the possibility of increased campaign violence ahead of the election, noting that it had documented at least 50 attacks in the previous two months.

BREAKING: INEC OFFICE ON FIRE IN ANAMBRA

In February, there will also be parliamentary and state elections.

Although no group claimed responsibility for the attack, scores of assaults in southeast Nigeria have been blamed on the outlawed separatist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), or its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network.

IPOB, which seeks a separate state for ethnic Igbo people in the southeast, has denied culpability for the violence on numerous occasions.

According to local media reports, more than 100 police officers and other security officials have been killed in targeted attacks since the beginning of last year.

Follow us on Facebook