Politics
Osun Poll: NSCDC deploys over 10,000 personnel to boost security
THE Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has deployed 10,210 personnel to reinforce security during Saturday’s Osun governorship election.
This is contained in a statement by the corps’ Spokesperson, Babawale Afolabi, on Monday in Abuja.
Afolabi said personnel deployed comprised 10,000, operational officers while the remaining 210 were from intelligence and specialised tactical units.
He also said the personnel were drawn from 10 state commands of the corps.
He explained that the NSCDC Commandant General (CG), Ahmed Audi, had directed the deployment of specialised formations with capabilities suited for the security needs of the poll.
Afolabi said that deployment include men of the CG’s Special Intelligence Squad, Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit, 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, detection, protection of critical assets, crowd control and other security responsibilities within their respective areas of competence,” he said.
Audi assured the people of the state that the NSCDC would remain professional, impartial and respectful of the rights of all residents throughout the process.
“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 jeopardise 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,” he vowed.
Meanwhile, the Osun State Commandant of the corps, Igbalawole Sotiyo, has urged personnel in the state to remain apolitical, maintain strict neutrality and discharge their duties with the highest level of professionalism before, during, and after the election.
Sotiyo said that the credibility of the corps and public confidence in its personnel would depend largely on their conduct throughout the electoral process.
He warned against actions capable of undermining the integrity of the corps or compromising the peaceful conduct of the election.
The commandant also directed Area Commanders to ensure that personnel under their supervision remained disciplined, professional and responsive to security needs.
(NAN)
Marcus bears the light, and he beams it everywhere. He’s a good governance and decent society advocate. He’s The ICIR Reporter of the Year 2022 and has been the organisation’s News Editor since September 2023. Contact him via email @ mfatunmole@icirnigeria.org
