3 killed as gunmen set INEC office ablaze in Imo

Gunmen have set ablaze the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) along Owerri-Port Harcourt Road in Imo State.

It was gathered that the gunmen, in the early hours of Monday, threw grenades through the commission’s fence, destroying several offices and vehicles parked in the premises.

It was learned that the police officers around the INEC office engaged the gunmen in a gun battle and killed three of the assailants.

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Confirming the incident, the commission’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, said the attack affected the part of the building occupied by the Election and Party Monitoring (EPM) Department.

He disclosed that one official utility vehicle (a Toyota Hilux pickup van) was burnt by the gunmen.

Okoye noted that the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Imo State, Prof. Sylvia Uchenna Agu, reported that the electoral umpire’s headquarters was attacked by gunmen at about 3 a.m.

The Star