The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Sankara, Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State, was set ablaze by irate youths, News About Nigeria gathered.
The incident occurred around 2 pm on Wednesday, July 3, according to the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for the state, Sam Egwu, who informed INEC headquarters in Abuja.
The protest was reportedly sparked by ongoing frustration over bandit activities in the region.
INEC’s statement, signed by National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education, Sam Olumekun, confirmed the attack.
“Although no casualties were reported, the building has been extensively damaged. Office furniture and other movable and immovable materials, including 10 electric generators, 300 ballot boxes, and 270 voting cubicles, were destroyed in the attack,” Olumekun stated.
Security agencies have been alerted and personnel have been deployed to the area to restore order.
In response to the escalating unrest, Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has imposed a 24-hour curfew on the affected local government.
The immediate trigger for the unrest was a violent attack on the Ayati community in Borikyo Council Ward of the LGA on Tuesday, July 2.
Suspected armed bandits killed approximately 11 people and left several others injured.
This attack led to widespread protests, with youths blocking and making bonfires on the Sankera–Ayati-Sai road.
Efforts by previous administrations to curb herders’ attacks have been largely ineffective.
Notably, on January 1, 2018, coordinated attacks by suspected herders in Logo and Guma LGAs resulted in over 70 deaths.
These attacks, which began around 9 p.m. and continued into the early hours, saw herders freely killing people and burning down houses without any intervention by security agencies.
