Suspected hoodlums, numbering about eight, yesterday , set the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Abeokuta South Local Council of Ogun State on fire.
The Guardian learnt that hoodlums scaled over the perimeter fencing of the commission located at Iyana Mortuary area of the state.
A source said the hoodlums soaked loaves of bread with petrol and threw same into the building, from different points, to light up the facility.
According to a source, the security guard on duty, Azeez Hamzat, made a distress call to the police at about 1:00a.m., that the facility was on fire.
He stressed that the police from Ibara division mobilised detectives to the scene, while contacting fire fighters, who raced to the scene to put out the fire.
It was learnt that the store, the Registration Area Officer’s office and the conference room were affected by the inferno.
“Non-sensitive materials were also affected by the fire. No life was lost and no injury was sustained in the fire,” the source added.
MEANWHILE, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mr. Niyi Ijalaye, has described the incident as shocking.
He said: “It is correct that our office may have been deliberately torched. The police are investigating the matter. I do not know what to say. I’m in shock.
“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.”
Spokesperson for Ogun State Police Command, Mr. Abimbola Oyeyemi, who said he just learnt of the incident, promised to make an official statement on the matter.
ALSO, some parts of INEC’s office in Ede South Local Government Area, located within the premises of the council area in Oke Iresi, Ede, Osun State, were yesterday razed by fire.
The Guardian gathered that the conference room of the secretariat was mainly affected in the fire, which started about 10:00a.m.
An eyewitness said the room was completely razed with furniture and some other items destroyed.
According to the witness, the early response of firemen from Osun State Fire Service, who were called immediately the smoke was sighted, restricted the fire to only the conference room of the secretariat.
The Public Relations Officer of Osun INEC, Seun Osimosu, who confirmed the incident, said the Resident Electoral Commissioner was on his way to inspect the office.