The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reports that its office in the Sankara area of Ukum LGA in Benue has been set ablaze.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Sam Olumekun, INEC's national commissioner and chairman of the information and voter education committee, said the incident was reported by Sam Egwu, the state's resident electoral commissioner. According to him, the youths in the area stormed INEC's office and other government facilities around 2 p.m. to protest against banditry in the area.

“Although no casualties were reported, the building has been extensively damaged. Office furniture and other movable and immovable materials, including 10 electric generators, 300 ballot boxes, and 270 voting cubicles, were destroyed in the attack,” the statement reads.

Meanwhile, Governor Hyacinth Alia announced an indefinite curfew in the Ukum Local Government Area in response to violent protests.