Ahead of the governorship election in Osun State on August 15, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has ordered the deployment of 10,210 personnel and specialised tactical units to strengthen security operations across the state.
The Commandant General of the NSCDC, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, gave the order, noting that 10,000 of the personnel are from 10 State Commands.
According to a statement signed by the National Public Relations Officer of the Corps, Assistant Commandant Babawale Afolabi, the deployment, which commences on Monday, is part of the Corps’ commitment to ensuring that voters, electoral officials, observers, journalists and residents are able to participate in the electoral process without fear or intimidation.
Afolabi explained that uniformed and undercover personnel from the Oyo, Ondo, Ekiti, Ogun, Lagos, Kwara, Edo, Kogi, Delta and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) State Commands, with about 1,000 personnel from each Command, will reinforce the Osun State Command and strengthen security coverage across the state alongside other security agencies on election duty.
He disclosed that the Commandant General had also directed the deployment of specialised formations with capabilities suited to the security needs of the election, including the CG’s Special Intelligence Squad (SIS) and Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit.
Others include the 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 and detection, protection of critical assets, crowd control and other security responsibilities within their respective areas of competence.
To ensure effective coordination and supervision, the Deputy Commandant General in charge of Operations, DCG Ayuba Phillip, together with designated Assistant Commandants General (ACGs) and other senior officers, will relocate to Osun State to oversee the Corps’ election security operations.
The Commandant General assured the people of Osun State that the NSCDC would remain professional, impartial and respectful of the rights of all citizens throughout the electoral process.
“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,” Prof. Audi said.
He added: “Our personnel have been properly briefed on the need to be professional, neutral, and respectful in the discharge of their duties.
“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 appealed to all political parties, candidates, supporters and residents to conduct themselves peacefully and allow the democratic process to take its course.
It stated that the Corps would 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.
Audi called on Osun residents to remain calm, peaceful and vigilant and to cooperate with security personnel throughout the election period.
He also encouraged members of the public to promptly report suspicious activities or security concerns to the appropriate security authorities.
