A police-repelled attack on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Owerri, the capital of Imo State, resulted in the deaths of four people, one of whom was a police officer.
Mike Abattam, the Imo State Police Command’s spokesperson, claimed that about ten gunmen with petrol bombs and dynamite arrived around three in the morning.
He claimed, however, that security personnel faced the criminals and murdered three of the attackers in the process of repelling the attack.
Abattam reportedly reported that three hoodlums’ vehicles had been found and that the police had detained one of the attackers.
On the grounds of INEC, some of the structure was torn down.
As the elections in 2023 approach, the national attacks on INEC headquarters have escalated. Two additional attacks in Imo, one each in the Oru West Local Government Area and the Orlu Local Government Area, were reported prior to the attack on Monday.
In addition, thugs set fire to the INEC office in Ebonyi State’s Izzi Local Government Area in November. Gunmen also targeted the commission’s offices in the states of Osun and Ogun. These attacks resulted in the destruction of several Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) and other electoral materials.
However, INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu has reassured Nigerians that the attacks on the electoral umpire’s offices won’t disrupt the general elections in 2023.