Emerging report indicates that 3 people were confirmed injured, after some suspected paid politically-sponsored thugs in some communities in Ilesa West Local Government Area of Osun State, on Thursday, stormed some venues designated for the collection of Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs, and disrupted the exercise.
The development created panic in Igbogi, Isokun, Ibala, and all neighbourhoods within Ilesa metropolis, forcing people to stay indoors, as the thugs wielding dangerous weapons roamed the streets.
A resident of Ibala, who pleaded anonymity, during a chat, said that the hoodlums intended to scare people away from the Centres where PVCs were being collected.
It was further learnt those injured in the fracas, were believed to have sustained the injuries when rival groups of hoodlums involved in the disruption clashed.
Speaking on the incident, the Public Relations Officer of Civil Defence Corps, Osun State Command, Olabisi Atanda, said that normalcy had been restored.
Her words: “They (the hoodlums) ransacked (PVC Collection Centres) in Ilesa West and Ilesa West Central. They were in Ward 1, 3, 6 and 7.
“The hoodlums did not let people obtain Permanent Voters Cards, but the Police and the Civil Defence Corps Operatives are on top of the situation.
“I am not aware there was an attack on the PDP Secretariat in Ilesa West Local Government. No arrest yet, but we are on hunt for the hoodlums. Three people were injured but no death was recorded.”
When contacted for reaction, the Osun State INEC Public Relations Officer, Seun Osimosu, said that PVC collection was not suspended in the affected areas, but noted that the staff were withdrawn from the affected communities, over safety concerns.
She added that the Commission would meet with the Security Agents in Ilesa West, to address the situation.
