Some suspected hoodlums on Thursday, stormed Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) collection centres in Ilesa West Local Government Area of Osun State, disrupting the exercise and injuring three persons.
The affected areas were Igbogi, Isokun, Ibala, and all neighbourhoods within the Ilesa metropolis, as people were forced to stay indoors while the hoodlums wielded dangerous weapons and roamed the streets.
It was learnt that the hoodlums intended to scare people away from centres where PVCs were being collected.
Speaking on the incident, the Public Relations Officer of Civil Defence Corps, Osun State Command, Olabisi Atanda, said normalcy had been restored.
She said, “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 didn’t 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 the hunt for the hoodlums. Three people were injured but no death was recorded.”
The Osun INEC Public Relations Officer, Seun Osimosu, has, however, said that PVC collection was not suspended in the affected areas, but noted that the staff were withdrawn from the affected communities over safety concerns.