The Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ahmed Abubakar Audi, has directed the deployment of 22,600 NSCDC personnel for the governorship elections scheduled to be held across three states this Saturday.
In a statement issued by CSC Babawale Zaid Afolabi, the National Public Relations Officer of NSCDC NHQ, Abuja, the CG emphasized the need for these personnel to maintain high ethical standards, discipline, professional conduct, and to remain apolitical.
The statement explained that the CG is committed to supporting democratic governance and processes and that the deployment aims to ensure water-tight security for the electorate, officials, and other stakeholders.
The CG called on residents of the three states to cooperate with the NSCDC and sister agencies, urging them to avoid any actions that could disrupt the strategic plans in place for the peaceful conduct of the elections, and warned against thuggery, ballot box snatching, and other activities that could mar the exercise.
He also called on politicians to caution their supporters, emphasizing that sabotage will not be tolerated. The CG assured that the NSCDC personnel have been briefed on how to carry out their duties in collaboration with other security agencies and stakeholders and will remain neutral on the field to ensure the security of the electorate, stakeholders, and election officials.
The statement added that various NSCDC units, such as undercover operatives, Arms Squad, operatives in the Counter-Terrorism unit, CG’s Special Intelligence Squad, Female Special Force, Rapid Response Squad, Crack Squad, and Anti-vandal Unit, have been detailed to prevent any potential disruptions that could breach the peace during the elections.
“The corps made the mass deployment in the affected states where elections are to hold. Our personnel are adequately briefed on how to discharge their duties in synergy with other security agencies and stakeholders”, CG added.
“We will remain neutral on the field to ensure the security of the electorate, other stakeholders and election officials and no act of sabotage will be tolerated.
“In order to have a hitch-free exercise, undercover operatives, Arms Squad, operatives in the Counter-Terrorism, CG’s Special Intelligence Squad, Female Special Force, Rapid Response Squad, Crack Squad and Anti-vandal Unit are all detailed to prevent any vacuum which saboteurs may leverage to perpetrate any act that could breach peace in the states,” the statement further added.
He stressed the importance of contestants accepting the election’s outcome or seeking redress through legal channels as provided by the law.
