The commandant general of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, has approved the deployment of 102,000 personnel to provide security during the forthcoming general election in the country.

This is contained in a statement by NSCDC’s spokesman Olusola Odumosu on Tuesday.

Mr Audi said the deployment aligned with the security agency’s readiness to provide a secure environment for Nigerians to exercise their franchise and assured Nigerians of a comprehensive deployment plan to enhance general security coverage nationwide for the people to vote without molestation or intimidation.

“In addition, there would be the deployment of the Anti-vandalism Squad and Special Forces to all critical national assets and infrastructure. Including flashpoints in states and the FCT, to protect them against vandalism, damage or arson by criminal elements before, during and after the elections,” the NSCDC boss stated.

He explained that the agency would engage officers from the Arms Squad, Counter Terrorism, Chemical, Biological Radiological and Explosives Unit, Female Squad, Rapid Response Squad, K9 and SWAT Units.

“Our specially trained undercover personnel have been dispatched from each Command to work effectively with other security agencies to maintain surveillance and provide intelligence reports and updates on the security situation in different states, especially on flashpoints,” the commandant general added.

Mr Audi said while state commandants would be responsible for field operations, a monitoring team comprising the DCG operations and other DCGs, zonal commanders and other senior officers had been constituted to monitor and supervise the exercise nationwide effectively.

He directed that, in addition to the unified code of conduct for security agencies, NSCDC Officers deployed for the assignment must comply with the corps’ operational code and the principles of the rule of law in discharging their duties.

(NAN)