Suspected hoodlums on Sunday attacked a Permanent Voter Card (PVC) distribution centre operated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Okuku, Odo-Otin Local Government Area of Osun State, disrupting the exercise and fleeing with several packs of voter cards.

The attack occurred at Oyinlola DC Primary School, Ward 2, where INEC officials were distributing PVCs to registered voters.

An eyewitness, identified simply as Gbadebo, said the assailants gained access to the premises unnoticed before opening fire into the air, sending voters and officials scrambling for safety.

According to him, the hoodlums headed straight to where the PVCs had been placed by INEC officials and escaped with some packs of the cards.

“The incident happened at Oyinlola DC School, Ward 2, Okuku, on Sunday. Many of us were waiting to collect our PVCs when the hoodlums suddenly appeared. They fired into the air, causing panic, and everyone ran in different directions. They went straight to where the INEC officials had kept the PVCs and made away with some packs. There were about eight of them,” Gbadebo recounted.

Confirming the incident, the Osun State Police Command condemned the attack and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice.

In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, described the attack as unacceptable and ordered a comprehensive investigation to identify, arrest, and prosecute those responsible.

According to the police, about 10 armed thugs invaded the PVC distribution centre, fired sporadically into the air, and carted away three packs of Permanent Voter Cards.

Ojelabi disclosed that tactical and intelligence units had been deployed, while efforts had been intensified to recover the stolen PVCs and apprehend the suspects.

“The Commissioner of Police, Osun State Command, has condemned the incident in its entirety and directed a thorough investigation with a view to identifying, arresting, and prosecuting all those responsible,” the statement read.

The police reiterated their commitment to professionalism and the rule of law, urging residents to remain calm and avoid actions capable of escalating tensions.

The command also appealed to members of the public, particularly eyewitnesses with credible information, to report to the nearest police station or contact its emergency lines to assist ongoing investigations.