The office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Nkpat-Enin local council of Akwa Ibom State, was on Saturday night hit by Improvised Explosive Device (IED).
This was coming barely 48-hours after the Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area office of INEC, was attacked in similar circumstance on Friday, destroying several card readers.
It was gathered that the device was launched into the premises of INEC while collation of results of the governorship and state Assembly elections were ongoing.
It was further gathered that the second IED set for detonation few minutes after, was immediately discovered at the generator room and defused by the soldiers.
As of the time of filing this report, it could not be ascertained whether anybody was killed or injured in the attack said to have affected some parts of the building and sent INEC officials scampering for safety.
Meanwhile, two suspects said to be hired mecenaries from the neighbouring Rivers State were arrested by soldiers and handed over to the Police. The sum of N200,000, according to security sources, were found on them.
The Special Adviser to governor Udom Emmanuel in-charge of the Bureau of Labour and Manpower Planning, Mr. Ekong Sampson, who monitored the collation, condemned the attack and warned aggrieved politicians not favoured by the outcome of the polls not to inflame the polity.
Also the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Odiko Macdon, who confirmed the attack said, “We are aware of the incident but I am yet to be fully briefed on the matter. I have asked for the report to be transmitted to me and as soon as I get the details, we will let the world know.”
