Two containers at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, headquarters in Awka, Anambra State, containing smart card readers to be used for the conduct of the coming elections have been burnt by fire.
The incident is coming four days to the Presidential and National Assembly elections.
Men of Anambra Fire Service were still battling with the fire as at the time of filing this report, the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports.
Combined personnel of the Police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Department of State Security (DSS) were on ground to ensure there was safety and orderliness around the vicinity.
Confirming the fire, the Independent National Electoral Commission Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Anambra, Dr. Nkwachukwu Orji, said he was yet to ascertain the extent of damage.
Orji said the sensitive materials affected were smart card readers meant for the general elections.
“I don’t have the details of how the fire started; all I know is that there was a fire incident involving the containers that house some of our sensitive materials.
“We have to do an assessment before we can ascertain the extent of damage, we have been storing equipments in that facility since 2011,” he said.
The incident is the second in the South East as INEC office in Isiala Ngwa, Abia, was penultimate week gutted by fire by unidentified persons.
Source: NAN
