Suspected armed hoodlums on Sunday attacked a Permanent Voter Card (PVC) distribution centre in Odo-Otin Local Government Area of Osun State, disrupting the exercise and fleeing with packs of voter cards.
The incident occurred at Oyinlola DC Primary School, Ward 2, Okuku, where officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were distributing PVCs to registered voters.
An eyewitness, identified simply as Gbadebo, said the attackers arrived unexpectedly, fired several gunshots into the air, forcing residents and INEC officials to flee before carting away some of the voter cards.
According to the eyewitness, the assailants, believed to be about eight in number, headed directly to where the PVCs were kept and escaped with the packs after creating panic at the distribution 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, Abiodun Ojelabi, said 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.