Suspected armed hoodlums on Sunday invaded a Permanent Voter Card distribution centre in Odo-Otin Local Government Area of Osun State, disrupted the exercise with gunfire and escaped 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 distributing PVCs to registered voters.
An eyewitness, identified simply as Gbadebo, said the attackers stormed the venue unexpectedly, fired several shots into the air, forcing residents and electoral officials to flee for safety before making away with some of the PVCs.
He said the assailants, believed to be about eight in number, headed straight for the area where the voter cards were kept and fled with the packs after causing panic at the centre.
Confirming the incident, the Osun State Police Command said the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, had condemned the attack and ordered an immediate investigation to identify and arrest those responsible.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abiodun Ojelabi, disclosed that tactical and intelligence teams had been deployed to track the suspects and recover the stolen PVCs.
"Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission were peacefully distributing Permanent Voter Cards at Oyinlola DC Primary School when about 10 armed thugs invaded the centre, fired sporadically into the air and carted away three packs of PVCs," Ojelabi said.
He added that the command remained committed to protecting lives and property and would ensure those behind the attack were brought to justice.
The police also appealed to residents and eyewitnesses with useful information to assist the investigation by reporting to the nearest police station or contacting the command through its emergency lines.
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