The assailants destroyed part of the building using an explosive device.
Gunmen on Monday morning launched an attack on the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
Three of the attackers were killed by the police while two Improvised Explosive Devices, three AK-47s, pump action guns and three vehicles were recovered.
The assailants destroyed part of the building using an explosive device.
The spokesperson for the state police command, Mike Abbatam, who confirmed the incident to The PUNCH, said three gunmen were killed while two firebombs were recovered from the scene.
SaharaReporters reported a similar attack on the INEC office in the Oru West Local Government Area of the state last Sunday.
The recent attacks come barely three months before the conduct of the 2023 general elections. Sunday’s attack in Owerri is the eighth attack on INEC facilities in five states within the last four months.
On Thursday, December 1, 2022, INEC office in the Orlu Local Government Area of Imo was also attacked.
“Overall, this is the 7th attack on our facilities in five States of the Federation in the last four months,” INEC said after the attack on Sunday, December 4.
As Nigeria prepares for the general elections to hold early next year, attacks on INEC offices have become commonplace.
SaharaReporters reported in November 2022 that INEC decried the incessant attacks on its local government office in Ogun State during which critical materials were also destroyed.
It was also reported that some hoodlums numbering about eight were said to have scaled the perimeter fence, jumped into the premises and set the INEC building on fire from the rear side.
In the same week, there was an attack on the commission’s office in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.
The Owerri attack, which was carried out around 3 am Monday morning (this morning), was, however, repelled as three of the assailants, including their commander, were gunned down by the police.
Abattam said, “We killed three of the attackers and recovered three AK-47 rifles and pump action guns. We also recovered two explosives and three of their vehicles.”
The police have subsequently beefed up security in some parts of the state in response to the latest attack.
Source: Sahara Reporters