By Ado Oyeyemi
Suspected armed hoodlums on Sunday disrupted the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards at a registration centre in Odo Otin Local Government Area of Osun State, making away with packs of voter cards.
The incident occurred at Oyinlola DC Primary School, Ward 2, Okuku, where officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission were issuing PVCs to registered voters.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers stormed the venue unexpectedly and fired gunshots into the air, causing panic and forcing residents and prospective voters to flee for safety.
A resident, who identified himself simply as Gbadebo, said the assailants headed straight to where the PVCs were kept after disrupting the exercise.
According to him, the attackers escaped with several packs of voter cards after the incident.
He said the armed men, believed to be about eight in number, entered the premises unnoticed before opening fire and carrying out the operation.
Confirming the attack, the Osun State Police Command said the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, had condemned the incident and ordered a full scale investigation.
The command’s spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, said preliminary findings indicated that about 10 armed thugs invaded the distribution centre, fired sporadically into the air and carted away three packs of PVCs.
He disclosed that tactical and intelligence teams had been deployed to track down the perpetrators and recover the stolen voter cards.
Ojelabi assured residents that the command remained committed to maintaining law and order and ensuring those behind the attack were arrested and prosecuted.
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He urged members of the public to remain calm and continue with their lawful activities, while appealing to anyone with useful information about the incident to report to the nearest police station or contact the command through its emergency lines.
