A police officer has been reportedly killed in an attack by unknown gunmen on the Enugu South Local Government office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
INEC, in a statement by its National Commissioner and Chairman
Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, on Monday, said the officer was one of the two policemen deployed to protect the facility.
It further disclosed that the incident which was reported by the Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, for Enugu State, Dr. Chukwuemeka J. Chukwu, occurred around 9.12pm on Sunday 15th January 2023.
The commission however said the attack was repelled by rapid response from the police and army personnel from 82 Division.
It noted that the other police officer on duty sustained injuries and is receiving treatment, even as it prayed for the repose of the soul of the deceased policeman and the speedy recovery of the injured.
“The security gatehouse was razed. Fortunately, the attackers could not gain access to the main building as a result of the rapid response from the Police and Army personnel from 82 Division.
“The State Commissioner of Police and the REC were personally at the scene immediately they received information about the attack.
“Of the two Policemen deployed to protect the facility, one of them lost his life while the other sustained injuries and is receiving treatment. The Commission prays for the repose of the soul of the deceased policeman and the speedy recovery of the injured,” the statement said.
INEC said the attack is being investigated by security agencies, while a meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, ICCES, in Enugu State co-chaired by the REC and the Commissioner of Police has been convened to discuss the latest incident and design additional strategies of fortifying the offices and protecting the personnel and materials.
“Meanwhile, the destroyed gatehouse will be rebuilt, and the Commission is proceeding with its preparations for the 2023 General Election in Enugu State and the entire country as scheduled,” it said.