INEC's office bombed in Ekiti

SSS arrests six over alleged theft of commission's equipmentTHE peaceful atmosphere in Ikole Ekiti community of Ekiti State was yesterday broken as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office was bombed by suspected hoodlums.In a related development, six persons, including an employee of the INEC, have been arrested by the State Security Services (SSS) for allegedly stealing materials and equipment belonging to the electoral body in Lagos.The SSS boss in Lagos, Mr. Achu Ben Olaye told reporters that sequel to report to them on the matter, the SSS spread its dragnet and went for the suspected thieves.Meanwhile, the commission yesterday announced the retirement of six officers who served in various capacities in Edo, Kwara, Zamfara, Imo and Osun, saying the action was in line with the efforts towards the re-positioning of the commission.Though the identities of the affected officers were kept under wraps, the commission, in a statement in Abuja by its Director of Public Affairs, Emmanuel Umenger, also announced the commencement of the voter's registration in Bayelsa State, ahead of the February 11 governorship election in the state.Sources said the hoodlums suspected to be political thugs drove in a Sport Utility Van (SUV) to the INEC office along Odooro Road, Ikole-Ekiti and beat the security man attached to the office to a state of coma before executing their devilish act.The bombing came just two days after the INEC conducted a re-run election to fill the vacant Ekiti Central Federal Constituency II House of Representatives seat. .The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate Oyetunde Ojo won the re-run election.The INEC Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr. Taiwo Gbadegesin, whose office was razed by the explosive, said that no life was lost in the incident.Gbadegesin said that the State's Resident Electoral Commissioner, Alhaji Hussaini Pai, led top officials of INEC to the place to assess the extent of damage done to the building.The Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti, Mr. Mohammed Jimoh, confirmed the incident, adding that the Police had deployed its bomb experts to the scene.The Guardian gathered that the retired officers are two electoral officers, two assistant directors, and two administrative officers.He said members of the syndicate paraded by SSS were Rafiu Atanda Osunware, Busayo Anyankolu, Bayo Akomolafe and Okoro Chukwu..Others are Chukwunwike Onwurah and Ugwaka Emeka. Osunware is said to be an INEC employee in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State.Umenger said the continuous voter's registration exercise, which began yesterday, was billed to end on December 19 in the state.
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