The Nigeria Police says it has opened investigation into the fire incident that gutted some sections of the temporary office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, at Umu-Ikaa, Isiala South Local Government Area of Abia State, South Nigeria.

The fire incident occurred on Saturday night, but no life was lost.

Abia State Commissioner of Police, Chris Ezike who was at on the spot assessment visit to the scene, told AIT that preliminary investigations suggest that perpetrators of the act are up to some games.

According to the CP, the attackers scaled through the fence, dropping off some cans of fuel into the window of the office toilet where the PVCs were kept, before setting it ablaze.

Already, two Police Officers are said to be in custody while two INEC staff have been questioned by detectives.

Ezike is debunking news making the rounds that about 15000 PVCs and the register containing the Voters details were destroyed by the fire , stating that only 319 PVCs were burnt while 7100 were salvaged.

A resident in the area, Nnabugwu Ofoegbu, claims the fire started at about 10pm, but the timely intervention of the youths and some Police men prevented from spreading and the causing more damage.


It would be the second time the INEC office in Isiala South Local Government Area is going up in flames during the electioneering season the first being in the year 2015.