The Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, has ordered the deployment of 10,210 personnel and specialised tactical units to Osun State ahead of the governorship election.
A statement signed by the National PRO, ACC Babawale Afolabi, said the deployment, which commenced on Monday, includes 10,000 officers drawn from 10 state commands — Oyo, Ondo, Ekiti, Ogun, Lagos, Kwara, Edo, Kogi, Delta and FCT — with about 1,000 personnel from each command.
They will reinforce the Osun Command alongside other security agencies.
The CG also directed the deployment of specialised formations including the CG’s Special Intelligence Squad, SWAT Unit, Specialised Female Squad, Mining Marshals, Special Strike Force, Crack Squad and K9 Unit for intelligence gathering, crime prevention, protection of critical assets and crowd control.
To ensure effective coordination, the DCG in charge of Operations, DCG Ayuba Phillip, along with designated ACGs and senior officers, will relocate to Osun to oversee operations.
Prof. Audi assured residents that the Corps will remain professional, impartial and respectful of citizens’ rights.
“The safety and security of election materials, electoral officials and the electorate are very critical. Our personnel have been properly briefed to be neutral and professional,” he said.
He warned that the NSCDC, in collaboration with other security agencies,”will not tolerate any activity intended to jeopardise the election process. Criminal-minded persons and political thugs willing to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the election will face the wrath of the law.”
The Corps will work with the Nigeria Police Force, Military and other agencies to ensure a peaceful election across the state’s 30 LGAs.
“As an agency saddled with the responsibility of protecting critical infrastructure and national assets; the safety and security of Election materials and Electoral officials are very critical alongside the electorates; you have the responsibility of ensuring unbiased synergy with other Security Agencies on Election duty to actualize a free, fair and credible election.
“In the light of the above the NSCDC in collaboration with other security agencies on election duty will not tolerate any activity intended to jeopardize the election 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”
The NSCDC therefore appeals to all Political Parties, candidates, supporters and residents to conduct themselves peacefully and allow the democratic process to take its course.”
The NSCDC will continue to work closely with the Nigeria Police Force, the Military and other sister security agencies under the established inter-agency security framework to ensure effective coordination and a peaceful electoral environment across the State’s 30 Local Government Areas.
The NSCDC Helmsman however calls on the good people of Osun State to remain calm, peaceful and vigilant, and to cooperate with security personnel throughout the election period while members of the public are also encouraged to promptly report suspicious activities or security concerns to the appropriate security authorities.
