By Ismail Auwal
The Enugu State Police Command has ordered an investigation into the fire that gutted the office of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Obollo-Afor, Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State.
Sahelian Times learnt that the State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Aliyu, ordered the investigation after visiting the scene of the inferno on Thursday to determine the extent of damage with a view to unraveling the cause of the fire at one of the sensitive institution’s offices in the state.
The state Police Public Relations (PPRO), Daniel Ndukwe, discloed thid in Enugu while confirming the fire incident at the Udenu local INEC office.
In a statement, Ndukwe give a detailed account of the incident, saying that the state police commissioner had directed that that the place be condoned off while ordering immediate investigation into the incident.
The PPRO said, “Following a distress call received at Udenu Police Divisional Headquarters of Enugu State Command on 13th May, 2021 at about 21.40hrs (9.40pm), that there was fire outbreak at the Obollo-Afor Office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Udenu L.G.A. of the State, operatives attached to the division immediately raced to the scene, while contacting Fire Service Office in the area to promptly put out the fire.
“Preliminary investigation suggests that the fire, which was eventually put out before it could spread to other offices around the building, through the combined efforts of the State Fire Service, the Police and law-abiding citizens, may have been caused by power surge due to sudden power supply to the building.
“Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Aliyu, has ordered the cordoning off of the scene and launch of thorough investigation to further ascertain the actual cause of the fire outbreak and damages incurred.”
