The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has deployed 10,210 personnel to strengthen security ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State.
The deployment was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja by the corps’ spokesperson, Babawale Afolabi.
According to Afolabi, 10,000 of the personnel are operational officers, while the remaining 210 comprise officers from intelligence and specialised tactical units.
He added that 1,000 personnel were drawn from 10 state commands of the corps.
Afolabi said the Commandant General of the NSCDC, Ahmed Audi, had directed the deployment of specialised formations with capabilities tailored to the security requirements of the election.
The formations include the CG’s Special Intelligence Squad, Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit, Specialised Female Squad, Mining Marshals, Special Strike Force, Crack Squad and K9 unit.
“The specialised teams will complement the regular deployment through intelligence gathering, crime prevention, detection, protection of critical assets, crowd control and other security responsibilities within their respective areas of competence,” he said.
Audi assured the people of Osun State that the corps would remain professional, impartial and respectful of the rights of residents throughout the electoral process.
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He said personnel had been adequately briefed on the need to remain professional, neutral and respectful in the discharge of their duties.
He warned that the NSCDC, in collaboration with other security agencies deployed for the election, would not tolerate activities capable of disrupting the electoral process.
“Criminal-minded persons and political thugs willing to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the election would face the wrath of the law as prescribed in the Electoral Act,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Osun State Commandant of the NSCDC, Igbalawole Sotiyo, urged personnel deployed for the election to remain apolitical, strictly neutral and professional before, during and after the poll.
Sotiyo said the credibility of the corps and public confidence in its personnel would depend largely on their conduct throughout the electoral process.
He warned officers against actions capable of undermining the integrity of the corps or compromising the peaceful conduct of the election.
“I urge you not to put the name of the corps into disrepute. Be apolitical, maintain neutrality and respect fundamental human rights.
“Discharge your duties strictly in line with the corps’ Standard Operating Procedures and other extant laws guiding election security operations,” he advised.
The commandant also directed Area Commanders to ensure that personnel under their supervision remained disciplined, professional and responsive to security needs.
He described the NSCDC as a professional and non-partisan agency responsible for protecting lives and property, critical national assets and infrastructure, as well as supporting the maintenance of peace and public order.
Sotiyo further urged personnel to treat voters with civility and respect, stressing that the election was a constitutional exercise.
He said the responsibility of security personnel was to provide a safe and conducive environment for citizens to exercise their franchise without fear or intimidation.
Sotiyo reiterated the command’s readiness to deploy its personnel professionally and responsibly, assuring that the corps would not compromise its neutrality or constitutional responsibilities.
He urged members of the public to cooperate with security personnel and report suspicious activities through appropriate channels, assuring that the command would remain vigilant before, during and after the election.
(NAN)
