The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has again recorded another attack on one of its facilities less than six weeks to the General elections.
This time, the electoral commission’s facility in Enugu South Local Government area of Enugu state was attacked.
It was learnt that the incident occurred when some unknown armed persons invaded the INEC office in the late hours of Sunday.
The attackers were said to have stormed the facility with various sophisticated weapons, around 9pm on Sunday.
It was also gathered that one of the policemen deployed to the location was also killed and another injured.
The attack has also been confirmed by the INEC National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye, in a statement issued on Monday.
Okoye in the statement disclosed that the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Enugu State, Chukuwuemeka Chukwu reported that the attackers could not gain entry into the main building as a result of the rapid response from the police and army personnel from 82 Division.
“Of the two policemen deployed to protect the facility, one of them lost his life while the other sustained injuries and is receiving treatment.
“The commission prays for the repose of the soul of the deceased policeman and the speedy recovery of the injured.”
The New Diplomat reports that INEC facilities have been targets of attacks across the country in the past years. Attacks in the South East and South-south account for over 70 per cent of the total attacks.
The commission’s analysis of the incidents showed that between 2019 and 2022, it recorded 26 attacks in the South-east (Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo), ten in the South-south (Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, and Cross River).
INEC had also revealed that it recorded ten attacks in the South-west (Ogun, Lagos and Ondo), three attacks in the North-east (Taraba and Borno), one in the North-west (Kaduna), within the period.
