Enugu State headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission was on Sunday night razed by unknown persons.
No fewer than six official vehicles of the commission were also burnt in the inferno.
The latest incident is coming barely 48 hours after another INEC office was razed in Udenu Local Government of the state.
It was, however, gathered that hoodlums numbering about seven stormed the INEC state headquarters located near Enugu State Broadcasting Service at Independence Layout, in a mini bus, and set fire to six Hilux vehicles, resulting in the complete razing of five of them while the sixth was partially burnt.
But security men guarding the INEC headquarters fiercely resisted attempts by the hoodlums to set fire on buildings in the premises. Some furniture in one of the offices were said to have caught fire before the arrival of fire-fighters.
Some residents of the area said sporadic gunshots were heard at about 10pm before the attack on the INEC headquarters but could not ascertain those responsible for the shooting.
Enugu State INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Emeka Ononamadu, confirmed the incident, saying that some vehicles on the premises were affected but the office buildings were saved.
“Firefighters were alerted shortly after the inferno was noticed and they rushed to the scene to prevent the fire from spreading to the main office complex,” he said.
Meanwhile, police in the state have begun a manhunt for the suspected hoodlums who razed the INEC headquarters.
State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Aliyu, has already ordered personnel to go after the perpetrators in addition to beefing up security in the area.
State Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, who announced in a statement by the Commissioner, said, “Yet to be identified armed miscreants, on Sunday, 16/05/2021 at about 2030hrs, attempted to set the Enugu Headquarters of the Independence National Electoral Commission (INEC) ablaze but were stiffly resisted by joint security operatives who swiftly mobilized to the scene.
“The State Fire Service personnel, who promptly responded to calls put across to them, helped in quenching the fire already set on four vehicles and two cushions within the office premises.
“Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Aliyu, who immediately raced to the scene alongside Heads of other Security Agencies in the State, has ordered the emplacement of adequate security within the precincts of the office and the launch of a full-scale investigation to unravel the mystery behind the act as well as fish out the assailants.”The PPRO further quoted the police commissioner as enjoining law-abiding citizens of the state to remain vigilant and assist the police in their investigation.