… It will not affect Anambra guber election – INEC
The Police Command in Anambra state on Monday said part of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in the state capital was burnt during Sunday night attack by armed hoodlums.
Mr Chris Owolabi, Commsioner of Police in the state confirmed the incident during a visit to the scene, even as the state fire services was busy clearing the debris in Awka on Monday.
Owolabi said the hoodlums had initially attacked the nearby B Division where they were fiercely resisted but managed to set the charge room on fire with Improvised Explosive Device.
He said three vehicels used by the hoodlums for the attack were demobilised and recovered including nine rifles, ammunition and other items.
Owolabi who applauded the gallantry of his men said the police resistance was about 98 per cent success with no loss of single personnel as wrongly reported in some sections of the media.
Owolabi refused to divulge the number of the hoodlums that were killed or arrested, adding that investigations were still on and that in due course he would inform the public.
“I want to thank God this morning that INEC building is still standing, to the glory of God and the vigilance of our men, some people had reported that it was a black Sunday in Awka.
” At about 8:pm last night, I got a call that B- division was under attack by armed hoodlums, there was a lot of gunfire and disturbances of public peace, but my men in B division defended themselves very strongly.
“An IED was thrown into the charge room and set the place on fire, we all know it was a decoy to attack INEC office, so we proceeded to INEC where we engaged the hoodlums.
“The three vehicles they came with was demobilised and recovered, that made them scamper for safety, we recovered about six pump actions, one G2 rifle and one AK47
“Investigations are still ongoing because developments are changing, so I can’t tell you specifically the number of persons that were lost, we are still searching hospitals and town and we are indeed recovering.
“I can tell you that there was no casualty on the part of the police, it was a 98 per cent success for us, just that we lost a building and four vehicles in INEC here and our charge room in B division,” he said.
Owolabi said the police alongside other security agencies were working hard and had already recovered the public space while urging residents to go about their lawful businesses.
According to him, we are working with our sister agencies, Army, Navy DSS and as you would have noticed, we have been having joint patrols in cities of Awka, Onitsha, Nnewi, Ituocha and other places.
“We are back to the streets to recover in a public place, people are enjoined to go about their lawful business and provide information to the security agencies, Anambra is safe.,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Nkwachukwu Orji, Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state has assured that the attack by armed hoodlums will not affect the forthcoming guber election on Nov. 6.
He said the affected places in the INEC office were the collation centre, parts of the store, entrance gate and six operational vehicles.
“We thanked God it was not all that bad. It was not a major damage. We are trying to get right the number of damaged items.
“Conducting the forthcoming guber election in the state is the decision at the national level. It is not for me to do that,” he said.
A visit to the affected areas on Monday morning showed that three Hilux vans used by the attackers were successfully recovered by the police.
Three of the Hilux vans seen by our reporter at the INEC headquarters were unregistered.
While one of the vans was demobilized by the police, another ran into an electric pole, while the third was abandoned by the attackers.
Contrary to reports by various media, the ‘B’ division police station was not burnt down, while only a section of the INEC headquarters containing generating sets were blown up by explosives
As of the time of filing this report, the entire area has been cordoned off.