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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Suspected arsonists have set ablaze the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office at Iyana Mortuary, in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
It was learnt that the hoodlums, numbering about eight, jumped over the fence into the premises and set fire to the INEC building.
The security guard at the facility, Azeez Hamzat, was said to have made a distress call to the police around 1am on Thursday over the incident.
According to reports, the hoodlums soaked loaves of bread with petrol and thrown them into the building.
It was gathered that policemen from Ibara division were mobilised to the scene, while men of the Ogin State fire service put out the fire.
The Registration Area Officer’s office and the conference room were affected by the inferno.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Niyi Ijalaye, confirmed the incident while speaking to newsmen in Abeokuta, on Thursday morning
He said: “Our office was set on fire. The police are investigating. I do not know what to say, I’m in shock myself. We called the police and other security agencies at night. The fire brigade put the situation under control. The level of damage is still being assessed.
“It is very shocking and untoward. The security agencies are doing their very best. We are meeting again later today to come up with other strategiestoward securing our facilities.”