Connect with us

Metro News

Again, INEC office set ablaze in Imo — fourth attack in three weeks across Nigeria

Published

on

 

The office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Orlu LGA of Imo state has been set ablaze.

Festus Okoye, INEC’s national commissioner and chairman, information and voter education committee, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

This is the fourth attack on an INEC office within the past three weeks.

INEC offices in Osun, Ogun, and Ebonyi were recently set ablaze, with thousands of permanent voter cards (PVCs), ballot boxes, and other election materials destroyed.

According to the statement by Okoye, Sylvia Uchenna Agu, the resident electoral commissioner (REC) for Imo, said the incident occurred on Thursday.

“The building, which is undergoing extensive renovation following an earlier attack, was vandalised and partially set ablaze,” the statement reads.

“Three out of seven construction workers were abducted but later released.

“The damage would have been more extensive but for the quick response of the Nigeria Police which has deployed its personnel to the site.

READ  ‘We have 1.9bn litres in stock’: NNPC assures Nigerians of petrol supply

“This is one attack too many. The Commission once again expresses its concern over the spate of attacks on its facilities and the negative consequences on our preparations for the 2023 General Election.”

Meanwhile, INEC has said the recent attacks on its facilities will not stop the conduct of 2023 general election.

“We will continue to engage with the security agencies to make sure that these offices as well as personnel and our facilities are protected ahead of the election,” Mahmood Yakubu, INEC chairman, had said recently.

“We may express some concern about the attack on these facilities, but it will never deter the commission from going ahead with the election as scheduled.”

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Metro News

Police parade ex-Oyo motor park boss, Auxiliary for murder, others

Published

on

By

 

Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Hamzat Adebola, on Thursday, paraded the former Chairman, Park Management System, Lamidi Mukaila fondly called Auxiliary.

 

The Department of State Services penultimate Tuesday arrested Auxillary at his Olodo residence in Ibadan, the state capital, months after the police had declared him wanted for allegedly involving in a series of armed robbery, kidnapping, and murder cases.

Adebola, while parading the suspect at the state police command, said he would be charged in court.

 

He said, “Discreet intelligence-led search commenced for the sacked PMS chieftain with the help of technology, collaborative efforts with sister services and community policing, many locations were identified, traced and combed for months until his recent arrest in a concerted effort with our sister services.

 

“Exhibits recovered in his possession at his Diamond Hotel residence around Alakia-Isebo Egbeda under Egbeda Local Government Area at the time include one AK-47 Riffle, four AK-47 magazines, 84 live AK-47 Ammunitions, 19 pump action riffles, one Barreta pistol, seven cut-to-size guns, one English made Barrel Gun.

READ  Three POS robbers set ablaze in Imo

“724 live cartridges, 25 cutlasses, Seven Jack knives, 33 mobile phones, one Samsung laptop, charms, one Mazda Bus, one Toyota Sienna, cash sum of N3,450,000.00. Moving forward, the suspect would be charged to court for offenses committed.” He stated.

 

The CP, therefore, thanked the public for providing credible information to curb the crime in the state.

 

Adebola also reiterated the commitment of the command to deal decisively with any criminally motivated individual or group who intended to flip the state retrogressively into the historical dark ages of the “Wild West.”

Continue Reading

Metro News

Army declares notorious ‘terrorist kingpin’ Halilu Buzu wanted

Published

on

By

 

The defence headquarters has declared one Halilu Buzu, a suspected terrorist kingpin, wanted.

 

Speaking during a media briefing on Thursday, Edward Buba, director of defence media operations, said Buzu is a citizen of Niger Republic but resides in Zamfara.

 

Buba said the army has been on his trail, adding that he is also wanted for killing 19 villagers in Farar Kasa area of Zamfara.

 

He said the suspected terrorist leader is well connected with arms suppliers in Libya.

 

“We are on the hunt of one Halilu Buzu. This Halilu Buzu is a terrorist leader that hails from Buzu in the Republic of Niger,” he said.

 

“He settles in Subbubu forest which is somewhere around Zamfara as well as lives in Shinkafi LGA of Zamfara.

 

“He has an illegal gold mining located at Kware in Anka LGA of Zamfara state and he also has a lot of boys working for him.

READ  Good morning! Here Are Some Major News Headlines In The Newspapers Today: 8 worshippers dead, 28 hospitalised as man sets mosque ablaze in Kano

 

“Additionally, he is a prominent cattle rustler. Last week, his boys killed 19 villagers at Farar Kasa and for us he is a high-value target, therefore, we declare him wanted.

 

“Furthermore, he is a major arms dealer, supplier, and suspect that is trusted by arms dealers supplying arms from Libya.

 

“Whenever we close in on him, he goes across the border into the Niger Republic for refuge.

 

“At this time, we have through appropriate channels, called on the Nigerien authorities, regional authorities and international bodies to support us in effecting his arrest and holding him accountable for his atrocities.”

 

Buba said the army has been working in various theatres of operation to address attacks against troops and citizens.

 

“We are also hunting those that are of symbolic value, including all those that have been declared wanted,” he added.

Continue Reading

Metro News

Six dead, 24 injured in Kano mosque explosion, say police

Published

on

By

 

The police command in Kano says the death toll from the mosque explosion in the state has risen to six.

 

The explosion occurred on Wednesday morning at Gadan village in Gezawa LGA of the state.

 

Abdullahi Kiyawa, police spokesperson in Kano, said the explosion occurred at about 5:20am during morning prayers.

 

Kiyawa said the injured victims were 20 male adults and four children, adding that preliminary forensic analysis revealed a petrol explosion.

 

He also said one Shafi’u Abubakar has been arrested as the prime suspect behind the explosion.

 

Soon after the explosion, Umar Sanda, an assistant inspector-general of police (AIG) in charge of zone 1, said one victim was confirmed dead at the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital.

 

Speaking on Thursday, Usaini Gumel, the state police spokesperson, said the death toll had risen.

 

Gumel said the suspect’s motive is linked to a family conflict. He added that investigation is ongoing.

READ  Gunmen invade Imo community, kill President-General, six other leaders

Continue Reading

Trending News