Some aggrieved youths in Benue State burnt down the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Sankara, headquarters of Ukum Local Government Area, on Wednesday.
National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, confirmed this in a statement.
Olumekun quoted Prof. Sam Egwu, Resident Electoral Commissioner for Benue as saying the youths invaded the facility around 2pm.
“The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Benue State, Professor Sam Egwu has reported that our Local Government Area office in Sankara, headquarters of Ukum Local Government Area, has been attacked and burnt down.
“The incident occurred at 2 p.m. today, Wednesday 3rd July 2024, when the youths in the area were said to be protesting against the activities of bandits who attacked facilities of government agencies, including INEC.
“Although no casualties were reported, the building has been extensively damaged. Office furniture and other movable and immovable materials, including 10 electric generators, 300 ballot boxes, and 270 voting cubicles, were destroyed in the attack.”
Governor Hyacinth Alia had declared an indefinite curfew on Ukum Local Government Area as a result of violent protest.
Our correspondent reports that heavy protests broke out in Sankera in the early hours of Wednesday following the fresh killings of 11 people by armed outlaws who have severally gone on rampage in the area and meted cruelty to the inhabitants.
