According to a report by DAILY POST, the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Sankara, headquarters of Ukum Local Government Area in Benue State, was set ablaze by irate youths protesting against the incessant attacks by bandits in the region.
The attack occurred on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, at around 2 pm, as the youths targeted government facilities, including the INEC office, in their demonstration against the ongoing security challenges faced by their community.
According to the INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Benue State, Professor Sam Egwu, reported the incident and the extensive damage caused to the local government area office.
"The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) 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," Olumekun said in a statement.
He further revealed that the attack resulted in the destruction of critical election materials and infrastructure, including 10 electric generators, 300 ballot boxes, and 270 voting cubicles, all of which were consumed by the flames.
While no casualties were reported, the building itself sustained extensive damage, leaving the INEC office in Sankara rendered unusable for the time being.
The attack on the INEC office comes at a time when the Benue State government and security agencies have been grappling with the ongoing menace of bandits, who have been terrorizing communities across the state.
The youths, who were the perpetrators of the attack, were said to be protesting the lack of adequate security measures to protect their communities from the relentless onslaught of the bandits.
"The incident occurred at 2 pm today, Wednesday, 3rd July 2024, when the youths in the area, said to be protesting against the activities of bandits, attacked the facilities of government agencies, including INEC," Olumekun explained.