‘Thugs’ break into Osun INEC office, set ballot boxes on fire

Suspected hoodlums broke into the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Oriade local government area of Osun state in the early hours of Sunday.

After invading the office, the attackers opened fire, scaring away officials of the commission. They were said to have seized ballot boxes, thumb-printed ballot papers and setting them on fire.

But an official of the commission said results of the election had been declared before the suspects struck.

Folasade Odoro, police public relations officer of the Osun police command, confirmed the incident but said it was quickly brought under control.

“At about 3.30am on Sunday, some hoodlums wielding guns and firing ‘sporadically’ attempted raiding the INEC office at Ijebu-Ijesa,” she said.

“In the process, the generator kept outside at the commission’s office caught fire and subsequently affected some empty ballot boxes and mats kept outside.

“The assailants were however repelled and the situation was brought under control. An intensified effort is being made to round up the culprits.”

Stephen Ojewande, INEC’s director of voter education in the state, told TheCable that officials of the commission were attacked in Ijebu-Ijesa as they were heading to Osun.

“Our officials from Ìjẹ̀bú Ìjẹ̀sà (in Oriade) were heading to Osogbo this morning when they were attacked. They had electoral materials with them, including ballot papers,” he said.

“Nobody was killed; those who sustained injuries are they are being treated. The results(papers and all) are still intact. The hoodlums didn’t get their hands on that.

Violence was recorded across the country during and after the presidential and national assembly elections.

Results of the exercise are being collated nationwide.