Hoodlums Attack INEC Center In Osun, Seize PVCs

Armed hoodlums have attacked an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) center in Osun State, making off with three packs of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

The incident occurred on Sunday at the Oyinlola DC Primary School, Ward 2, in the Odo-Otin Local Government Area, where officials were distributing the cards to residents.

According to the Osun State Police Command, about ten armed thugs stormed the venue and fired sporadically into the air to disperse the crowd before seizing the voter cards.

An eyewitness, Gbadebo, described the scene, stating, “They shot into the air and disrupted the exercise. Some of us around fled in different directions, and they went straight to where those INEC staff put the PVCs and made away with some packs”.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the attack and noted that the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, has condemned the incident.

The police commissioner has directed a comprehensive investigation and deployed tactical and intelligence assets to apprehend the perpetrators.

“Efforts have been intensified to apprehend the perpetrators and recover the stolen PVCs,” Ojelabi stated.

The attack has drawn sharp condemnation from political leaders. The Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, described it as a serious assault on the nation’s democracy.

He warned against any attempt to intimidate voters, saying, “Your vote is your voice, and every lawful effort will be made to ensure that every legitimate vote is protected and counted”.

The police have urged the public to remain calm and cooperate with the ongoing investigation.