UPDATE: POLICE TO INVESTIGATE ENUGU INEC OFFICE FIRE
The state Police Command has committed to looking into the alleged burning of the Independent National Electoral Commission headquarters in Ogrute, Igboeze North Local Government Area of Enugu State.
In a statement released on Monday, INEC claimed that arsonists had set fire to its office in Enugu State’s Igboeze North LGA.
Following recent allegations of instability in the council areas, which share borders with the states of Kogi and Benue, the state administration placed a curfew on Igboeze North and Igboeze South.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, confirmed the fire incident in a statement on Monday and stated that the command was ready to determine what caused the blaze that destroyed the INEC headquarters on Sunday night.
According to the statement, the fire broke out at the INEC office in the Enugu-Ezike neighborhood’s Ogrute neighborhood at 11:00 p.m. on Sunday.
A portion of the statement stated, “The fire, observed to have started from the back of the building, was put out by Police operatives that swiftly mobilized to the scene upon receiving the information, with assistance from personnel of Nsukka Office of Enugu State Fire Service, thereby averting further damages within the vicinity.
“Consequently, the CP, while assuring that the Command will do all it can to unravel the cause of the incident and take necessary action, has enjoined residents of the area to support the Police with credible information and/or intelligence in the ongoing investigation.
“Meanwhile, the area has been cordoned-off for preservation and further investigative actions.”