Hoodlums invade Osun PVC distribution centre, cart away voter cards

Some suspected hoodlums on Sunday attacked a Permanent Voter Card (PVC) distribution centre at Oyinlola DC Primary School in Okuku, Odo-Otin Local Government Area of Osun State, disrupting the exercise and making away with packs of voter cards.

The incident occurred at the ward collation centre where officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were distributing PVCs to eligible voters.

A resident of Okuku, identified simply as Gbadebo, said the attackers stormed the premises unnoticed before opening fire into the air, causing panic among residents and those waiting to collect their voter cards.

According to him, people at the venue fled in different directions as the armed men headed straight to where INEC officials had kept the PVCs.

“The incident happened at Oyinlola DC School, Ward 2, Okuku, on Sunday. Some of us were there to collect our PVCs when the hoodlums suddenly appeared.

“They fired shots into the air, forcing everyone to run for safety. They then went directly to where the INEC officials had kept the PVCs and escaped with some packs of the cards. There were about eight of them,” he said.

Confirming the attack, the spokesperson for the Osun State Police Command, SP Abiodun Ojelabi, said the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, had condemned the incident and ordered a full-scale investigation.

Ojelabi disclosed that about 10 armed thugs attacked INEC officials who were peacefully carrying out the PVC distribution exercise and carted away three packs of Permanent Voter Cards after firing sporadically into the air.

“Some officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Osun State, who were peacefully distributing Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) at Oyinlola DC Primary School, Ward 2, Odo-Otin Local Government Area, were attacked by about 10 armed thugs.

“The hoodlums reportedly fired sporadically into the air and carted away with three packs of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs),” he said.

The police spokesperson added that the Commissioner of Police had directed a comprehensive investigation aimed at identifying, arresting and prosecuting all those responsible for the attack.

He further stated that the command had deployed tactical and intelligence assets to track down the suspects and recover the stolen PVCs.

Ojelabi reaffirmed the command’s commitment to professionalism and the rule of law, urging residents to remain calm and avoid actions capable of causing further breakdown of law and order.

He also appealed to members of the public, particularly eyewitnesses with useful information, to report to the nearest police station or contact the Osun State Police Command through its emergency lines to assist ongoing investigations.