INEC headquarters guted by fire

Fire razed a section of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC’s headquarters in Abuja, Monday, causing pandemonium around the Maitama area of the Federal Capital Territory, as staff of the commission ran to different directions for safety.

The incident came barely 18 months after a similar one occurred in the office of the commission’s chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, causing destruction on the visitors’ room as well as some computer sections.

Nigeria’s National Emergency Agency, NEMA has confirmed that only one office was gutted by fire in the Abuja national headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC in Abuja on Monday morning.

Ishaya Chonoko, Head of Abuja Operation Office of NEMA who confirmed that the fire incident occurred before noon said an office in the Annex Building of INEC was gutted in the incident.

Shuaib identified the office as that of the Director of Registry while there was no record of casualty because of what he described as the swift response of the emergency services to distress call from INEC.

In another statement, Yushau Shuaib, NEMA’s head of public relations said the timely response of rescue officers especially firefighters from the Federal and FCT Fire Service served the situation from affecting other buildings within the premises.

However, it was not clear if important documents were consumed in the inferno as INEC said it will issue a statement on the extent of its loss in the fire incident later