BREAKING: Gunmen Storm INEC Centre in Osun, Snatch PVCs

Gunmen on Monday afternoon attacked officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Odo-Otin Local Government Area of Osun State, disrupting the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and making away with electoral materials.

The attack occurred at Oyinlola DC Primary School, Ward 2, where INEC officials were carrying out PVC distribution ahead of the forthcoming election.

According to the Osun State Police Command, about 10 armed men stormed the venue and fired several gunshots into the air, creating panic among residents and electoral officials.

The sudden attack forced INEC personnel and members of the public at the centre to flee for safety as the assailants took control of the area.

Police spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, disclosed that the attackers escaped with three packs of Permanent Voter Cards after the operation.

The command described the incident as a threat to the electoral process and assured residents that efforts were underway to apprehend those responsible.

In a statement issued after the attack, Ojelabi said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ibrahim Gotan, had strongly condemned the incident and ordered an immediate investigation.

He stated that security agencies had launched a manhunt for the suspects while measures had been intensified to recover the stolen materials.

“Tactical and intelligence assets have been deployed, and efforts have been intensified to apprehend the perpetrators and recover the stolen PVCs,” the police spokesman said.

The police further assured residents that normalcy had been restored in the affected area and that adequate security measures were being put in place to prevent a recurrence.

Authorities also appealed to members of the public with useful information to assist investigators.

Residents were urged to report suspicious movements or persons to the nearest police station as security operatives continue their investigation.

Meanwhile, INEC has confirmed that some Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices were also taken during the attack.

Speaking on the incident, Adedayo Oketola, Chief Press Secretary to the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun State, said the commission was awaiting the outcome of the ongoing police investigation.

“We are still awaiting the outcome of the police investigation. The police are already investigating that matter, so we are waiting for the outcome of the investigation,” he said.

According to him, security agencies had already begun efforts to track down those responsible for the attack.

He noted that the number of BVAS devices stolen was not significant and insisted that the incident would not affect the conduct of the election.

“It is not a lot of BVAS. They only took BVAS devices that were being used at the time of the attack. I don’t have the number. But I do not think it’s a lot,” Oketola stated.

He stressed that the stolen devices would be rendered useless to the attackers and could not be used to manipulate the electoral process.

“I want you to know that stealing BVAS is not going to affect the election because the BVAS are useless in their hands,” he said.

“The BVAS cannot affect the election in any way, and of course, the commission will replace the stolen BVAS, and every other plan will go ahead.”

On reports that PVCs were also carted away during the attack, Oketola said the matter remained part of the ongoing investigation.

“I only know of the BVAS for now, but as I said, whatever material has been stolen, the police are investigating,” he added.

He expressed confidence in the ability of law enforcement agencies to arrest those involved and ensure they face prosecution.

“We trust the police not just to do the investigation; we trust the police to nab these hoodlums and make them face the music,” he said.