Breaking: Arsonists set Ogun INEC office on fire
Bankole Taiwo, Abeokuta
Some suspected arsonists have on Thursday early morning reportedly set an office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at Iyana Mortuary, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital on fire.
It was gathered that the hoodlums, numbering about eight had reportedly scaled the perimeter fence, jumped into the premises and set the INEC building on fire from the rear
They were alleged to have soaked loaves of bread with petrol and threw same into the building at different angles to light up the INEC office.
It was further learnt that the security guard at the facility, one Azeez Hamzat, had made a distress call to the police around 1am, saying the facility was on fire.
The police from Ibara division were said to have mobilized detectives to the scene, while contacting fire fighters, who raced to the scene to put out the fire.
It was gathered that the store, the Registration Area Officer’s office and the conference room were affected by the inferno.
A source also told our correspondent that non-sensitive materials were also affected by the fire.
“No life was lost and no injury was sustained in the fire,” it was learnt.
Meanwhile, the Ogun INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Niyi Ijalaye, has confirmed the incident, describing it as shocking.
“It is correct that our office was set on fire. The police are investigating. I do not know what to say. I’m in shock myself. We called the police and other security agencies at night. The fire brigade put the situation under control. The level of damage is still being assessed.
“It is very shocking and untoward. The security agencies are doing their very best. We are meeting again later today to come up with other strategies (toward securing our facilities),” Ijalaye said.
Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi when contacted for comments said he would find out details about the incident from the DPO of the area before making any statement as he was also just learning about the occurrence.
