20 trapped in Udoka Estate fire as over 4,000 card readers destroyed by fire in Anambra
UDOKA Housing Estate and INEC Awka fire: At least 20 persons are trapped in a story building that is on fire now at Udoka Housing Estate around Eze-Uzu palace Awka.
An eye witness resident in Udoka who sought for number of the Anambra state fire service Boss , Martin Agbili informed that the fire is spreading and unless something urgent is done , people would be roasted. Details later
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says 4,695 smart card readers were destroyed by fire that razed its facility in Anambra State on Tuesday.
The commission’s National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, disclosed this in a statement.
“Initial assessment, however, confirms that a total of 4695 of the Smart Card Readers were destroyed in the inferno,” it said.
The fire is coming 4 days to the Presidential and National Assembly elections.
Two containers housing Smart Card Readers for the elections were on Tuesday afternoon gutted by fire at INEC headquarters in Awka, Anambra.
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It was the third fire incident affecting INEC in 12 days.
The commission said while it awaits the details of the incident, there was no fatality or injury reported.
The commission said it is a setback to its preparations for the smooth conduct of the elections in Anambra State.
It, however, revealed it will mop up spare card readers from other states and deploy to Anambra.
The commission said it remained confident that the election in the state will proceed as scheduled.
INEC while commending the fire service for its response, said it has reported the incident to the Police and the Fire Service and investigations into the cause have commenced.
