THE Chief Fire Officer of Enugu State, Mr Okwudili Ohaa, said timely intervention of Fire Service saved INEC headquarters from burning down completely.
This happened barely 48 hours after an office of the INEC was razed in Udenu Local Government of Enugu State.
Ohaa told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Monday that five INEC operational vehicles were completely burnt and one was partially burnt.
It was learnt that hoodlums numbering about seven in a Mini-Bus stormed the premises of the commission located near Enugu State Broadcasting Service at Independence Layout and set fire to six Hilux vehicles, five of which were completely burnt. The sixth was partially destroyed.
They reportedly tried to set buildings in the premises ablaze but were resisted by armed security operatives guarding the premises. Some furniture in one of the offices were said to have caught fire before firefighters arrived.
Residents of the area said they heard sounds of gunshots at about 10pm before the inferno but could not ascertain those responsible for the shooting.
Ohaa said, “Our timely intervention saved INEC headquarters Enugu from burning completely.
“We were able to quench the fire immediately as it tried to spread to the main building of the INEC Headquarters.
“It only gutted two seats, probably visitors seats at the corridors upstairs.”
The state Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Aliyu, in a statement, issued by the Command’s spokesman, Daniel Ndukwe, said “yet to be identified armed miscreants, on Sunday, 16/05/2021 at about 2030hrs, attempted to set the Enugu Headquarters of the Independence National Electoral Commission (INEC) ablaze but were stiffly resisted by joint security operatives who swiftly mobilized to the scene.
“The State Fire Service personnel, who promptly responded to calls put across to them, helped in quenching the fire already set on four vehicles and two cushions within the office premises.
“Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Aliyu, who immediately raced to the scene alongside Heads of other Security Agencies in the State, has ordered the emplacement of adequate security within the precincts of the office and the launch of a full-scale investigation to unravel the mystery behind the act as well as fish out the assailants.”
