INEC’S DDC MACHINES STOLEN FROM AIRCRAFT

UNKNOWN persons on Monday night found their way into the tarmac of the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos and burgled a cargo plane containing several units of the Direct Data Capture (DDC) machines, carting away an undisclosed number of the equipment.

The cargo plane had arrived at the airport on Monday at around 7.00 p.m. and awaited clearing formalities at  the tarmac in the airport.

It was learnt that those who stole the machines were said to have entered through Gate 3 into the tarmac.

The controversy at the airport at the time of this report was how the hoodlums were allowed to get to the tarmac and make  away with the machines.

It was gathered that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was aware of the incident and had informed the presidency about the development, following which an investigation had been launched to unravel mystery behind the theft.

The machines, were in the open close, left uncleared for days at the airport, while the machines, according to investi-gations, were placed close to a porous wall in the airport.

An ongoing strike embarked upon by some aviation workers was said to have stalled the clearing of the machines that had since arrived in the country.

the incident was made possible because clearing agents, who were supposed to be on guard, were on strike.

According to the source, “the clearing agents were protesting the hike in the money being charge from N1 million to N7 million. So, you see what this two-day strike has caused us now.

“The aircraft was burgled where it was between a place called ramp and the tarmac. If you know the airport very well, you will know there is a porous wall around the tarmac area, which provided an open invitation for the hoodlums to cart away the machines.”

Calls to the line of INEC chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, were unanswered, just as the text messages. Other top officials of the commission also kept sealed lips on the development.