The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has deployed 6,000 of its officers and men to provide adequate security at the Nov. 16 Ondo governorship election. 

This is contained in a statement by the NSCDC public relations officer, Afolabi Babawale, on Sunday in Abuja.

He said that the NSCDC commandant general (CG), Ahmed Audi, had ordered the deployment to ensure adequate security before, during, and after the election.

Mr Audi said that the personnel would be deployed from Ekiti, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Lagos, Edo, and Delta states, among others, to ensure free, fair and credible elections.

“In this election, the NSCDC has vital roles to play by ensuring the protection of all critical national assets and infrastructure across the state; providing security for officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) 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 will be on ground for security coverage both on land and the coastal towns across all the 18 Local Government Areas, the 203 Wards, and the 3933 Polling Units in the entire State,” he said.

The NSCDC commandant said that some personnel would also be deployed from the corps national headquarters.

According to him, personnel comprising Special Female Squad, Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Agro Rangers Unit, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives Unit (CBRNE) will be deployed.

“Also, personnel from K-9 Unit, Marine Unit, CG’s Mining Marshall, Election Monitoring Unit (EMU), as well as the Intelligence and Investigation Department, will be deployed.

“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 we work in collaboration with the Nigeria Police, which is the lead agency in election security.

“Notably, effective collaboration is unavoidable as this will enhance a successful election process; hence, all officers must be professional and disciplined as they interface with the public and other sister agencies,” he said.

Mr Audi cautioned electorate against all acts of vandalism, destruction of public utilities, and election violence.

He advised guardians and parents to caution their children and wards against being used as instruments of violence by desperate politicians.

He noted that the NSCDC was out to protect the fundamental human rights of the voters; however criminal minded individuals would not be spared but arrested and dealt with in tandem with the provisions of the electoral Act. 

(NAN)