Gunmen have attacked an office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Isu Local Government Area of Imo state, Nigeria’s southeast.

The attack is the fourth on INEC offices in less than three weeks in the state.

It comes less than two weeks after gunmen attacked an INEC office in Owerri, the state capital.

Three gunmen and one police officer were killed in the Owerri attack.

About three weeks ago, gunmen had attacked another INEC office in Oru West Local Government Area.

Three days later, another INEC office was attacked by gunmen in Orlu Local Government Area of the state.

The latest incident occurred on Tuesday.

INEC spokesperson, Festus Okoye, who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, said the attackers vandalised some parts of the commission’s office.

Okoye, a lawyer, said the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Imo State, Sylvia Agu, a professor, reported the incident to the commission.

“Eight windows were smashed and burglary proofs removed. Fortunately, the attackers could not access the building. Movable and immovable equipment as well as other materials were not removed or vandalised,” he said.

The INEC spokesperson said, as a precautionary measure, some “critical materials” such as ballot boxes and voting cubicles have been evacuated to another INEC facility for safe keeping.

“Similarly, all uncollected PVCs have been secured while security will be deployed to ensure the continuous collection of the cards by registered voters in the same premises,” he stated.

Okoye said the attack has been reported to the police and other security agencies.

The INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, said on Friday that continuous attacks on the facilities of the commission may render it unprepared for the 2023 general election.

PT