Abuja – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged security agencies to unravel the circumstances that led to the killing of one of its staff at Ihite Oboma, Imo State on Thursday, April 14.
Festus Okoye, National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee of INEC who made the demand in a statement said this is necessary in order to bring the culprits to justice.
It will be recalled that
Mr Nwokorie Anthony, a staff of the Imo State office of the Commission involved in the ongoing continuous voter registration exercise, was shot dead by unknown gunmen at Nkwo Ihitte (PU 004) in Amakohia Ward (RA 02) of Ihitte Uboma Local Government Area.
It was further reported that the whereabouts of two other staff involved in the registration exercise was unknown till the close of work on April 14.
As a result of the attack, Okoye said the INEC has suspended the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration Exercise in Ihitte Uboma Local Government Area of Imo State.
“Prior to this incident, the Commission had suspended the CVR in Orsu and Njaba Local Government areas of the State on account of insecurity while the exercise is taking place only at the INEC LGA office in Oru East, Oru West, Orlu and Ohaji – Egbema Local Government Areas of the State.
“We enjoin the President General of the various Town Unions in Imo State as well as all the critical stakeholders to protect staff of the Commission engaged in national assignment.
“The safety and security of staff is of paramount importance to the Commission, particularly with the devolution of the voter registration exercise beyond our State and Local Government Area offices nation in our determination to serve Nigerians better,” Okoye said in the statement. (vitalnews)
