Gunmen have attacked officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the Odo-Otin LGA of Osun state.
Abiodun Ojelabi, spokesperson of the state police command, shared in a statement that the gunmen made away with three packs of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) after the attack.
Ojelabi relayed that 10 suspected thugs stormed Oyinlola DC Primary School, ward 2, in the Odo-Otin LGA, where INEC officials were distributing PVCs.
The spokesperson said the assailants fired several shots in the air, forcing electoral officials to flee before escaping with packs of PVCs.
Ojelabi added that Ibrahim Gotan, commissioner of police in the state, condemned the attack and ordered a comprehensive investigation to identify, arrest, and prosecute those responsible.
“Tactical and intelligence assets have been deployed, and efforts have been intensified to apprehend the perpetrators and recover the stolen PVCs,” the statement reads.
Ojelabi further said operatives of the Osun state police command had restored normalcy in Ile-Ife after suspected thugs who gathered around the Mayfair garage area became unruly, temporarily disrupting public peace and order.
He assured residents of the command’s unwavering commitment to protecting lives and property while maintaining law and order across the state.
Ojelabi reiterated the command’s commitment to professionalism and strict adherence to the rule of law in the discharge of its responsibilities.
The spokesperson, however, called on residents and eyewitnesses with useful information to report to the nearest police station.
Confirming the incident on Monday, Adedayo Oketola, chief press secretary (CPS) to Joash Amupitan, INEC chairman, said preliminary investigation showed that some Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices were stolen during the incident.
“We are still awaiting the outcome of the police investigation. The police are already investigating that matter, so we are waiting for the outcome of the investigation. I think they started a manhunt for those people, and of course, they promised that they would arrest them,” Oketola said.
“We are waiting for the police to get back to us on the matter, and the headquarters is also waiting for the police to revert to us. So, nothing new yet.”
He relayed that the number of stolen devices was insignificant.
“It is not a lot of BVAS. They only took BVAS devices that were being used at the time of the attack. I don’t have the number. But I do not think it’s a lot,” he said.
Oketola added that the theft would neither disrupt nor compromise the election.
“I want you to know that stealing BVAS is not going to affect the election because the BVAS are useless in their hands,” he said.
“The BVAS cannot affect the election in any way, and of course, the commission will replace the stolen BVAS, and every other plan will go ahead.”
On the PVCs that were stolen during the attack, he said he could not confirm the claim and added that all items reportedly taken were part of the ongoing police investigation.
“I only know of the BVAS for now, but as I said, whatever material has been stolen, the police are investigating,” he said.
“We trust the police not just to do the investigation; we trust the police to nab these hoodlums and make them face the music.
“But as I said, I cannot speak on the matter that is being investigated by the police.
“I trust that the police would do their job well and then the suspects would be nabbed and, of course, made to face the wrath of the law. That’s what we have for now.”
The Osun governorship poll will hold on August 15, 2026.
