Suspected armed thugs on Sunday disrupted the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) at an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) collection centre in Okuku, Odo-Otin Local Government Area of Osun State, making away with several packs of voter cards.
The attack occurred at Oyinlola DC Primary School, Ward 2, where INEC officials were attending to residents who had turned up to collect their PVCs.
An eyewitness, identified simply as Gbadebo, said the attackers entered the premises unexpectedly and fired gunshots into the air, forcing officials and prospective voters to flee for safety.
According to him, the assailants moved directly to the area where the PVCs had been kept and escaped with several packs of the cards.
“We were waiting to collect our PVCs when the armed men suddenly appeared. They fired into the air, causing panic, and everyone ran for safety. They then took some of the PVC packs before leaving. There were about eight of them,” he said.
Reacting to the incident, the Osun State Police Command condemned the attack and announced the commencement of an investigation.
In a statement issued by the Command’s spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, directed security operatives to identify and arrest those responsible while ensuring the recovery of the stolen PVCs.
The police disclosed that the attackers, estimated to be about 10 in number, invaded the INEC distribution centre and fired sporadically before escaping with three packs of Permanent Voter Cards.
The command said tactical and intelligence teams had been deployed to track down the suspects, stressing its commitment to protecting the electoral process and maintaining law and order across the state.
Residents were urged to remain calm, cooperate with security agencies, and provide any useful information that could aid the ongoing investigation through the nearest police station or the command’s emergency lines.
