Suspected hoodlums reportedly stormed a ward collation centre at Oyinlola DC Primary School in Okuku, Osun State, disrupting an ongoing voter cards distribution exercise by the Independent National Electoral Commission and seizing election materials.
The Sunday attack caused chaos at the venue, as people present fled in different directions for safety.
A local resident named Gbadebo stated that the attackers quietly entered the venue before firing gunshots into the air and grabbing several packs of PVCs located near the INEC officials attending to voters.
“The incident occurred at Oyinlola DC School, Ward 2, Okuku, Osun State, on Sunday. Some of us were around to collect our PVCs, and I can’t say when those hoodlums got into the premises.
“They shot into the air and disrupted the exercise. Some of us around fled in different directions, and they went straight to where those INEC staff put the PVCs and made away with some packs.
Gbadeboa aslo added that the hoodlums involved “are about eight in number.”
Abiodun Ojelabi, Public Relations Officer for the Osun State Police Command, confirmed the incident in a statement, noting that Police Commissioner Ibrahim Gotan strongly condemned the attack.
Ojelabi added that Gotan ordered a comprehensive investigation to track down, arrest, and prosecute those involved.
“The hoodlums reportedly fired sporadically into the air and carted away with three packs of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
“The Commissioner of Police, Osun State Command, has condemned the incident in its entirety and has directed a comprehensive investigation with a view to identifying, arresting, and prosecuting all those responsible.
He also mentioned that tactical and intelligence teams have been deployed to step up operations, apprehend the suspects, and retrieve the stolen voter cards.
Backstory…
The attack on the INEC office comes at a sensitive period as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, with the electoral commission winding down voter registration and intensifying preparations for the polls. In recent weeks, INEC has shifted its focus to cleaning up the voters’ register, producing Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and finalising logistical arrangements ahead of the election timetable.
Political parties have also stepped up campaigns and mobilization efforts as the country moves closer to the polls.
Incidents targeting INEC facilities have occurred in previous election cycles, raising concerns over the security of electoral materials and the integrity of the electoral process.
Meanwhile this incident comes amid INEC’S closure of voter registration.
Read Also: INEC Ends Voter Registration Exercise Today, Opposition Fumes
