The Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, Mr Abubakar Lawal, has ordered the State Criminal Investigations Department to conduct a thorough investigation to establish the cause of the fire outbreak at Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Office, located at Ogrute in Enugu-Ezike community of the LGA, at about 11 pm on 03/06/2022.
In a release issued by the Police Spokesman in the state, DSP Daniel Ndukwe stated that “the fire, which was observed to have started from the back of the building, was put out by Police Operatives that swiftly mobilized to the scene on receipt of the information, with assistance from the personnel of Nsukka Office of Enugu State Fire Service, thereby averting further damage within the vicinity.”
Reports gathered that the office of the INEC in Ogurute, Igboeze North Local Government Secretariat, Enugu State was burnt down by fire on Sunday night.
Recall that recently the area had reportedly come under attack from gunmen, forcing the Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi-led State government to impose a 6 pm to 6 am curfew in both Igboeze North and Igboeze South Local Government Areas.
Heavy security operatives have also been moved to the area to check the invasion, although the attacks, however, had not stopped.
It was gathered that out of fear, the State fire Service which has an office at Ogurute could not move in until security was provided.
But by the time security was provided the fire had done much damage.
However, both fire trucks from Nsukka and Ogurute were mobilized and reportedly fought the fire most of the night preventing it from spreading further.
Lawal while assuring that the Command “will do all it can to unravel the cause of the incident and take necessary action,” urged residents of the area to support the Police with credible information and/or intelligence in the ongoing investigation.
Meanwhile, the area has been cordoned off for preservation and further investigative action.
