The Nigeria Police Force, Enugu State Command has said the fire incident at the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, office in the Udenu local government area of the state was caused by a power surge.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Force Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Daniel Ndukwe on behalf of the Commissioner of Police.
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi visited the scene where he took a brief from the INEC Electoral Officer in charge of Udenu LGA, Dustan Eke, to ensure effective intervention of the newly constructed fire service stations in Udenu and Igbo-Eze North Local Government Areas, as well as the one in Nsukka LGA.
The governor charged the security agencies to ensure the safety of the lives and property of residents of the area.
The statement read in full, “Following a distress call received at Udenu Police Divisional Headquarters of Enugu State Command, on 13/05/2021, at about 2140hrs, alleging there was fire outbreak at the Obollo-Afor Office of the Independence National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Udenu L.G.A. of the State, Operatives attached to the Division immediately raced to the scene, while contacting Fire Service Office in the area to promptly put out the fire.
“Preliminary investigation suggests that the fire, which was eventually put out before it could spread to other offices around the building, through the combined efforts of the State Fire Service, the Police and law-abiding citizens, may have been caused by a power surge due to sudden power supply to the building.
“Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, *CP Mohammed Ndatsu Aliyu, psc*, has ordered cordoning off of the scene and launch of a thorough investigation to further ascertain the actual cause of the fire outbreak and damages incurred.”