Men of the Nigeria Police Force in the early hours of Monday neutralised three gunmen who attacked the state office of the Independent National Electoral Commission along Owerri/Port Harcourt Road, in Owerri, Imo State.
The gunmen, who arrived at the scene in large number at about 3am, burnt some part of the building deploying explosive devices in the process.
The policemen on duty repelled the attackers killing three of them after demobilising their vehicles.
The spokesperson of the Imo State Police Command, Mike Abbatam, told journalists that a police officer died during the attack and another one injured. He said three vehicles were recovered from the attackers.
The Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinmma alongside the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mohammed Barde, have paid a visit to the scene.
Barde, while briefing the governor on the attack said, apart from the three thugs that were killed, two of them were also arrested with gunshot injuries. He said some of the guns used in the attack were also recovered by his men. He didn’t say how many of the attackers escaped.
The attack is coming just days after an INEC office in Orlu Local Government Area of the state was hit.
INEC offices in Ebonyi, Osun and Ogun States Attacks have also been recently attacked by those whose mission remains unknown.
Nigeria’s national elections are scheduled to begin next February with the presidential and National Assembly elections.
