Following the fresh attack on Wednesday morning by suspected bandits in the Ayati Community of Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State,Some aggrieved youths in the State have burnt down the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Sankara, headquarters of Ukum Local Government Area,.
The National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, confirmed this in a statement.
He quoted Prof. Sam Egwu, Resident Electoral Commissioner for Benue as saying the youths invaded the facility around 2pm.
“The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Benue State, Professor Sam Egwu has reported that our Local Government Area office in Sankara, headquarters of Ukum Local Government Area, has been attacked and burnt down.
“The incident occurred at 2 p.m. today, Wednesday 3rd July 2024, when the youths in the area were said to be protesting against the activities of bandits who attacked facilities of government agencies, including INEC.
“Although no casualties were reported, the building has been extensively damaged. Office furniture and other movable and immovable materials, including 10 electric generators, 300 ballot boxes, and 270 voting cubicles, were destroyed in the attack.”
Eleven persons were killed in Wednesday’s attack
The State Governor Hyacinth Alia through the Deputy Governor, Barr..Sam Ode declared an indefinite curfew on Ukum Local Government Area citing violent protest.
The protesters were alleged to have razed the council’s secretariat as they laid dead bodies of victims on the parking lot of the Council Chairman, Victor Iorzaa.
Alia’s Statement reads; “Beginning today, 3rd July 2024, a curfew be imposed on Ukum Local Government and environs beginning from 3pm to 3pm of tomorrow 4th July 2024.
“The curfew shall be observed from 6pm to 6am beginning from tomorrow 4th of July 2024 untill further notice.”
