THE Imo State police, says the attack on the INEC’s Oru West office was carried out, by gunmen believed to be members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN).
According to state police spokesperson Mike Abattam, who spoke in Owerri yesterday, the on-duty agents, repulsed the attack.
He added that from beyond the fence, the shooters fired Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) into the office.
“The police operatives who engaged the hoodlums professionally inflicted various degrees of injuries on them. Having suffered a huge defeat, the hoodlums retreated, escaping in their vehicle and were given a hot chase by the operatives.
“In the course of their escape, the explosives fell in the Conference Room of the INEC office and caused minor damages to some of the furniture and windows. No life was lost,” he added.
He added that while the inquiry was still ongoing, aggressive measures were being taken to apprehend the runaway suspects.
Abattam urged everyone to phone the command’s control room at 08034773600 or 08098880197 in case they have any genuine information that could help the police find anyone who is hiding or treating gunshot wounds in their neighborhoods.
According to INEC National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Imo State, Prof. Sylvia Uchenna Agu, reported that the commission’s office in Oru West Local Government Area was attacked around 4 a.m. yesterday December 4, 2022.
Additionally, he recalled that the Imo State INEC office in Orlu Local Government Area had also been attacked on Thursday, December 1, 2022.
Stakeholders have raised concerns over frequent attacks on INEC facilities in the South East zone.
The director of the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Idayat Hassan, stated in an interview yesterday that the attacks were a warning sign for the 2023 elections and for the stability of the country.
