Unknown gunmen set INEC Njaba office in Imo, Abia Immigration Office ablaze
Chidi Opara (Owerri), Sam Oditah (Umuahia), May 30, 2021
The office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Okwudor, Njaba Local Government Area of Imo, has been gutted by fire set by unknown gunmen.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Prof. Francis Ezeonu, made this known in a statement issued to newsmen on Sunday, in Owerri.
He confirmed that no life was lost in the inferno, which started in the morning, but that the building had been substantially burnt including electoral materials, office equipment and furniture.
Ezeonu said the Okwudor office was one of the newly completed offices under his administration, saying that the incident had been reported to the police for investigation.
“This attack is coming exactly a week after our office at Ahiazu, Mbaise Local Government Area of the state, was vandalised on May 23.
“It is also the eighth INEC office to be attacked in Imo State since the 2019 general election. The total number of INEC office attacked nationwide since 2019 has now risen to 42,” he said.
The REC described INEC buildings, infrastructure and equipment as critical national assets that guaranteed the continuity of electoral activities throughout the federation.
“Attacking these offices is not in the national interest and has the capacity of compromising electoral activities and the credibility of the democratic process,” he said.
Gunmen set Abia Immigration Office on fire
In another development, unknown gunmen attacked the Abia Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service, setting the office on fire.
The Public Relations Officer of the service, Mr Godwin Ogbonna, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday.
Ogbonna, however, said he had yet to get details of the attack on the facility, situated at the Ubakala axis of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway.
“It probably happened Saturday night. I do not have details about the incident, the time it happened and extent of damage yet but no casualty was recorded.
“I tried to go to the office from my house on Bende Road, Umuahia today (Sunday) but the whole road was blocked so I went back home.
“I hope I would be able to find my way to the office Monday to see things for myself and ascertain what was damaged,” Ogbonna said.
NAN reports that unidentified gunmen have sustained attacks on Federal Government’s facilities in Abia in the last one month, killed some operatives and left many with gunshot injuries.
The list of the facilities included at least eight police formations and offices of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and Independent National Electoral Commission.
Meanwhile, palpable fear and tension now pervade the state, especially Umuahia, ahead of Monday’s sit-at-home order by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra.
