NSCDC deploys 10,210 personnel for Osun governorship poll

Abimbola Joseph

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has deployed 10,210 personnel and specialised tactical units to Osun State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

The Commandant-General of the NSCDC, Prof Ahmed Abubakar Audi, ordered the deployment as part of measures to strengthen security and ensure the peaceful conduct of the poll.

The Corps’ National Public Relations Officer, Babawale Afolabi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja.

The personnel will be deployed alongside officers from the NSCDC’s Osun State Command and other security agencies participating in the election.

The reinforcement includes uniformed and undercover personnel from the Oyo, Ondo, Ekiti, Ogun, Lagos, Kwara, Edo, Kogi, Delta and Federal Capital Territory commands, with about 1,000 personnel drawn from each command.

Audi also directed the deployment of specialised units, including the Commandant-General’s Special Intelligence Squad, Special Weapons and Tactics Unit, Specialised Female Squad, Mining Marshals, Special Strike Force, Crack Squad and K9 Unit.

The units will support intelligence gathering, crime prevention and detection, protection of critical infrastructure and election materials, crowd management and other security operations.

The NSCDC’s Deputy Commandant-General in charge of Operations, Ayuba Phillip, will relocate to Osun State with designated Assistant Commandants-General and other senior officers to coordinate and supervise the Corps’ election security operations.

Audi urged personnel to remain professional, neutral and respectful of citizens’ rights throughout the electoral process.

He said the Corps would work with other security agencies to protect voters, electoral officials, election materials, journalists, observers and residents.

The NSCDC warned political thugs and other individuals against attempting to disrupt the election, stressing that anyone found engaging in activities capable of undermining the poll would face the law.

The Corps also appealed to political parties, candidates and their supporters to conduct themselves peacefully and respect the electoral process.

It said it would work with the Nigeria Police Force, military and other security agencies under the established inter-agency security framework to maintain security across Osun State’s 30 local government areas.

Audi urged residents to remain calm and vigilant and report suspicious activities or security concerns promptly to the relevant authorities.