Gunmen Raid INEC Office In Osun, Cart Away PVCs, BVAS, Police Launch Manhunt

The Osun State Police Command has launched an investigation after suspected hoodlums attacked officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the Odo-Otin Local Government Area, stealing multiple Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and electronic voting hardware.

The attack took place at Oyinlola DC Primary School in Ward 2, Okuku, where electoral officials were actively conducting a PVC distribution exercise.

According to a statement by the command’s spokesperson, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, a gang of roughly ten armed thugs invaded the venue, firing shots into the air to scatter the crowd before escaping with three packs of PVCs.

The incident escalated beyond the theft of voter cards. Adedayo Oketola, the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan, confirmed that preliminary reports indicate several Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices were also plundered by the attackers.

Despite the security breach, Oketola assured the electorate that the theft would neither compromise nor delay the electoral timeline. “The police are already investigating the matter, so we are waiting for the outcome,” Oketola stated, noting that security agencies have initiated a manhunt for the suspects.

Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, strongly condemned the raid, describing it as unacceptable interference with the democratic process. He ordered an immediate, comprehensive investigation aimed at identifying, tracking down, and prosecuting the perpetrators.

The command has urged local residents to remain law-abiding and calm while avoiding any retaliatory action that could threaten public peace. DSP Ojelabi appealed to eyewitnesses or anyone with credible intelligence to report immediately to the nearest police station or use the command’s emergency lines to aid the investigation.

The security breach comes at a critical time for the state, with the highly anticipated Osun governorship election scheduled to take place on August 15, 2026.