Some suspected hoodlums reportedly stormed a Permanent Voter Card (PVC) distribution centre at Oyinlola DC Primary School, Okuku, Osun State, where officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were distributing Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), and carted away some of the cards.
The incident, which occurred on Sunday, reportedly disrupted the exercise as people at the scene fled in different directions.
A resident of Okuku, identified simply as Gbadebo, told our correspondent that the perpetrators entered the premises unnoticed and fired shots into the air before making away with packs of PVCs kept close to the chairs of the INEC officials attending to prospective voters.
“The incident occurred at Oyinlola DC Primary School, Ward 2, Okuku, Osun State, on Sunday. Some of us were there 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 fled in different directions, and they went straight to where the INEC staff kept the PVCs and made away with some packs. The hoodlums were about eight in number,” Gbadebo said.
Confirming the incident in a statement, the Osun State Police Command’s spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, said the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, had condemned the attack.
Ojelabi said the commissioner had directed a comprehensive investigation to identify, arrest and prosecute those involved.
He added that the command had deployed tactical and intelligence assets, while efforts had been intensified to apprehend the perpetrators and recover the stolen PVCs.
He said, “Some officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Osun State, who were peacefully distributing Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) at Oyinlola DC Primary School, Ward 2, Odo-Otin Local Government Area, were attacked by about 10 armed thugs.
“The hoodlums reportedly fired sporadically into the air and carted away 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.
“The Command reiterates its unwavering commitment to professionalism and strict adherence to the rule of law in the discharge of its constitutional responsibilities. Members of the public are urged to remain calm, law-abiding, and refrain from any action capable of causing a further breach of the peace.”
He appealed to residents and eyewitnesses with credible information that could assist the investigation to promptly report to the nearest police station or contact the command through its emergency lines.