A resurgence of arson targeted at public institutions, especially those critical to the successful conduct of the 2023 general elections, yesterday, raised fears of a volatile electioneering season as the country begins its countdown to the polls.
After a jolt from simultaneous attacks on its Osun and Ogun offices, yesterday, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has summoned an emergency security meeting today with head of security agencies, who are members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), including the National Security Adviser (NSA), over recent attacks on its facilities to deliberate on the disturbing trend.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ogun, Dr. Niyi Ijalaiye, reported that their office in Abeokuta South Council was attacked and set ablaze. The incident occurred around 1.15a.m. when some unidentified persons overpowered the security personnel on duty and set the entire building ablaze.
The main building and all the Commission’s movable assets in the office were destroyed.
They include 904 ballot boxes, 29 voting cubicles, 30 megaphones, 57 election bags, eight electric power generators and 65,699 uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
Similarly, the REC for Osun, Dr. Mutiu Agboke, reported that their office in Ede South Council was also attacked and set ablaze.
The Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Lanre Bankole, has described the burnt INEC office as a case of arson and wake up call for the police to beef up security across the state.
