The Commandant General (CG) of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi has ordered the deployment of 6,000 officers and men to provide adequate Security before, during and after the November 16, Ondo Governorship Elections.
In a press release from the National Public Relations Officer, Headquarters, NSCDC, CSC Babawale Afolabi, the CG said the NSCDC is fully ready to ensure free, fair and credible elections noting that the Corps would deploy personnel from neighbouring states such as Ekiti, Ogun, Oyo Osun, Lagos, Edo, and Delta, amongst others.
“In this election, the NSCDC have vital roles to play by ensuring the protection of all Critical National Assets and Infrastructure across the State; providing security for INEC officials and ad hoc staff, safeguarding the movements of election materials and its distribution both on land and in the coastal towns and overall monitoring of election process till the results are announced”.
“Our men would be on ground for security coverage both on land and the coastal towns across all the 18 Local Government Areas, the 203 Wards, and 3933 Polling Units in the entire State”
The NSCDC Boss said: ‘The personnel drawn from the host State, neighbouring states and the National Headquarters comprises: Special Female Squad, Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Agro Rangers Unit, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives Unit (CBRNE), K-9 Unit, Marine Unit, CG’s Mining Marshall, Election Monitoring Unit (EMU) as well as the Intelligence and Investigation Department”.
“There are comprehensive and strategic measures already put in place which are targeted towards forestalling all forms of political violence and thuggery before, during and after the elections”.
“It is highly imperative that you work in collaboration with the Nigeria Police, which is the lead agency in election security. Notably, effective collaboration is unavoidable as this would enhance a successful election process; hence, all officers must be professional and disciplined as they interface with the public and other sister agencies”.
While warning against all acts of vandalism, destruction of public utilities and election violence the NSCDC helmsman advised guardians and parents to caution their children and warn them against being used as instruments of Violence by desperate politicians noting that the NSCDC is out to protect the fundamental human rights of the voters while criminal minded individuals will not be spared but arrested and dealt with in tandem the provisions of the electoral act.
By Abbanobi -Eku OnyekachiAbuja @Authority Newspaper
