The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Zamfara, lost one card reader during the training of ad-hoc staff in Anka Local Government Area, an official has confirmed.

Alhaji Garba Galadima, INEC Head of Voter Education and Publicity in the state, who confirmed the incident on Sunday in Gusau, said security agents, were investigating the matter.

Reacting on the issue, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Sunusi Amiru said the police had already arrested some suspects in connection with the stolen machine.

He said investigation had also commenced to unravel the circumstances behind the missing machine.

Amiru expressed the command’s readiness to ensure peaceful election in the state, saying that “we will not tolerate any threat to disrupt election process and we have to ensure full protection of INEC materials”.

He called on members of the public to cooperate with security agents and the INEC to ensure successful elections.

The introduction of card reader by INEC has generated heated controversy with some members of the public exhibiting scepticism about the workability of the device. There were allegations that some politicians have perfected plans to undermine the political process by compromising the card reader.