By Peter Duru

MAKURDI – Unknown persons, yesterday, set ablaze the office of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Ugbah, headquarters of Logo Local Government Area of Benue State.

Vanguard gathered from an eyewitness that the fire started from the administrative block of the office complex and spread to the other sections.

A source said it took the effort of members of the community who mobilised themselves to put out the fire.

It was not clear, at press  time, what might have ignited the fire and the level of damage.

However, the source revealed that it may not be unconnected with indiscriminate bush burning during this period of the year.

Corroborating the story of an eyewitness in a telephone chat, INEC Public Relations officer, PRO, Mr. Linus Ochai, explained that the office caught fire after some villagers set surrounding bushes on fire.

Ochai, who confirmed that a section of the office complex was consumed in the inferno, stated that the Electoral Officer attached to the area was already on his way to assess the level of damage to the building.