No fewer than 6,433 officers and men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have been deployed for the Edo State Governorship Election, NewsSpecng learnt.
The Commandant General of the NSCDC), Dr Ahmed Audi in a statement on Wednesday, charged them to remain apolitical, act professionally and disciplined while on election duty, noting that the NSCDC has a vital role to play in the protection of critical national assets and infrastructure
He stressed that the security of election materials, both sensitive and otherwise, has become very vital for the operatives before, during and after the election.
According to the statement, the NSCDC will deploy over 300 operatives each from Ondo, Delta, Kogi, Osun, Imo and Enugu Commands, with the Edo State Command having 3,626 officers on ground for the election while Rivers and Bayelsa State Commands will draft in 400 and 350 personnel respectively.
Also, 607 Special Forces would be deployed from the National Headquarters, which comprises the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad, Special Female Squad, Anti Vandal Squad, Chemical Biological Radiological and Explosive Unit, while Kennel ( K9) Unit has also been mobilized for the election.
The CG was quoted to have said: “Our deployment for the Edo Governorship Election will cover all nooks and crannies, including flash points. Since we do not have a general election, we have enough personnel to deploy across Wards, Polling units, Collation centres, INEC offices and other areas.
“All Personnel deployed are to work in synergy with other security agencies to ensure a peaceful conduct of the election; the special forces and Anti vandal squad are to ensure the protection of government facilities and infrastructure with more attention paid to the identified flashpoints and volatile areas. Notably, the undercover officers have been deployed few days to the election to maintain round-the-clock surveillance and provide up-to-date intelligence report and real-time security situation from all the 18 local governments in Edo State.
“Let me use this opportunity to enjoin politicians not to heat the polity unnecessarily. You are also advised to shun all forms of violence, thuggery, snatching of ballot boxes and any other form of electoral malpractices that could disrupt the peaceful conduct of the election.
“It is very vital to also warn in strong terms that parents and guardians should keep their children from being used as instruments of violence or being sponsored by desperate politicians to cause mayhem and electoral violence as those arrested would be charged accordingly in compliance with the extant laws”.
The Commandant General also directed the Deputy Commandant General in charge of Operations; DCG Philip Ayuba, to ensure overall supervision, monitoring and effective coordination of the deployed personnel before, during and after the elections
