Tension erupted in Niger State on Friday as enraged residents of Magama Ward, in Nasko Local Government Area, set the office of the Niger State Independent Electoral Commission (NSIEC) on fire.
The unrest reportedly began after officials of the commission arrived with ballot papers but failed to include official result sheets in the election materials.
Eyewitnesses said the omission sparked outrage among the residents, who accused the officials of planning to manipulate the upcoming local council polls.
“The officials came with the ballot papers but no result sheets,” one resident said. “People became angry because that is how they start rigging elections.”
The protest quickly escalated into violence as the crowd moved against the commission’s office, which was soon engulfed in flames.
While the extent of the damage is still being assessed, reports indicate that several sensitive materials were destroyed in the fire.
Witnesses said the residents viewed the incident as a deliberate attempt to compromise the election and demanded an immediate response from the authorities.
Security operatives were later deployed to the scene to contain the situation and prevent further destruction.
As of press time, there were no official reports of arrests or casualties linked to the incident.
The violence comes ahead of the state’s local government elections scheduled for 1 November 2025, amid rising political tension across Niger.
Local sources said the build-up to the polls has been marked by allegations of political interference and intimidation.
In recent days, reports emerged that a student of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Mokwa, was arrested in connection with pre-election activities, a development that has deepened public mistrust of the electoral process.
Residents in several communities have expressed fears that the government may be using security forces and administrative tactics to sway the outcome of the elections in favour of ruling party candidates.
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