We’ll probe INEC Enugu office fire – Police

Following the alleged burning of the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Ogrute, Igboeze North Local Government Area of Enugu State, the state Police Command has vowed to investigate the cause of the fire.

The PUNCH reported that INEC, in a statement on Monday, alleged that hoodlums burnt its office in the Igboeze North LGA of Enugu State.

The Igboeze North and Igboeze South Council areas had been under 6:00pm to 6:00am curfew imposed by the state government following recent reports of insecurity in the council areas which had boundaries with Kogi and Benue States.

Confirming the fire incident in a statement on Monday, the State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, vowed that the command was poised to unravelling the cause of the inferno that destroyed the INEC office on Sunday night.

Ndukwe, in the statement titled, “Fire outbreak at INEC Office in Igbo-Eze North LGA: CP Abubakar orders thorough investigation, assures unravelling cause of the incident”, said the Commissioner of Police, CP Abubakar Lawal, had ordered the Command’s Criminal Investigation Department to conduct a thorough investigation to establish the cause of the fire outbreak.

According the statement, the fire started at about 11:00pm on Sunday at the INEC office located at Ogrute in Enugu-Ezike community.

The statement partly read, “The fire, observed to have started from the back of the building, was put out by Police operatives that swiftly mobilised to the scene on receipt of the information, with assistance from personnel of Nsukka Office of Enugu State Fire Service, thereby averting further damages within the vicinity.

“Consequently, the CP, while assuring that the Command will do all it can to unravel the cause of the incident and take necessary action, has enjoined residents of the area to support the Police with credible information and/or intelligence in the ongoing investigation.

“Meanwhile, the area has been cordoned-off for preservation and further investigative actions.”