The Commissioner of Police in Enugu, Mohammed Aliyu, says unknown gunmen attacked and set ablaze the Independent National Electoral Commission’s headquarters in the state.

The police chief stated that security forces prevented the gunmen from burning down the facility on Sunday night.

Mr Aliyu also announced that he had directed that the facility be cordoned off to investigate the incident properly.

The police spokesman in Enugu, Daniel Ndukwe, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.

The fire broke out at the INEC headquarters in Enugu, located at 1 Achi Street, Independent Layout, Enugu, on Sunday evening (May 16).

The commissioner, who raced to the scene alongside heads of other security agencies in the state, also ordered the deployment of security men within the precincts of the INEC office complex.

He said, “Yet-to-be-identified armed miscreants on Sunday, May 16, at about 8:30 p.m., attempted to set the Enugu Headquarters of the INEC ablaze.

“But were stiffly resisted by joint security operatives, who swiftly mobilised to the scene.

“The Enugu State Fire Service personnel that promptly responded to calls helped in quenching the fire, which had already set on five vehicles and two cushions within the office complex.”

The commissioner, however, urged law-abiding residents of the state to remain vigilant and promptly volunteer helpful information that would help the police in the investigation.

Meanwhile, INEC officials in the state have yet to respond to inquiries over the incident. The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), his deputies, and a spokesman did not reply to telephone calls.

On May 13, at about 9.40 p.m., a fire broke at the INEC area office in the Orba community in Udenu local government area.

(NAN)