The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has deployed 6,433 operatives to provide security ahead of the Edo governorship election on Saturday.

NSCDC announced this in a statement on Wednesday.

The NSCDC commandant general, Ahmed Audi, urged the operatives to be non-partisan and adopt professionalism while discharging their duties.

“The corps has a vital role to play in ensuring the protection of election materials, both sensitive and non-sensitive, before, during and after the election.

“Since we do not have a general election, we have enough personnel to deploy across wards, polling units, collation centres, INEC office and other areas.

“Our deployment for the Edo governorship election will cover all nooks and crannies, including flashpoints,” stated the civil defence chief.

He added, “All personnel deployed are to work in synergy with other security agencies to ensure a peaceful conduct of the election.

“Officers and men deployed were drawn from the corps’ headquarters special forces, the CG’s special intelligence unit, anti-vandal squad, Chemical Biological Radiological and Explosive Unit, Kennel (K9) unit, amongst others.”

Mr Audi also mentioned that the special forces and anti-vandal units were to protect government facilities and infrastructure and that they should pay more attention to the identified flashpoints and volatile areas.

He added, “The undercover officers have also been deployed before now to maintain round-the-clock surveillance and provide up-to-date intelligence reports and real-time security situations from the 18 local governments in Edo.

“Citizens should shun all forms of violence, thuggery, snatching of the ballot box and any other form of electoral malpractices that could disrupt the peaceful conduct of the election.”

Mr Audi noted that 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,” warning them against being “sponsored by desperate politicians who might want to cause mayhem and electoral violence.”

“Anyone arrested would be charged accordingly in compliance with the extant laws,” Mr Audi stated.

(NAN)