November 11 Election: NSCDC Deploys 22,600 Personnel To Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has deployed no fewer than twenty-two thousand six hundred personnel to monitor this weekend’s off-cycle governorship elections in Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo States.

The Commandant General of the NSCDC, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, reiterated the agency’s commitment to supporting democratic governance and processes, adding that the deployment aims to ensure water-tight security for the electorate, officials, and other stakeholders during the November 11 elections.

In a statement made available to newsmen yesterday, the National Public Relations Officer of NSCDC NHQ, Abuja, CSC Babawale Zaid Afolabi, warned the personnel to maintain high ethical standards, discipline, and professional conduct and to remain apolitical.

He quoted the NSCDC commandant to have urged residents of the three states to cooperate with the security personnel and sister agencies, urging them to avoid any actions that could disrupt the strategic plans in place for the peaceful conduct of the elections and warned against thuggery, ballot box snatching, and other activities that could mar the exercise.

He also called on politicians to caution their supporters, emphasizing that sabotage will not be tolerated. The CG assured that the NSCDC personnel have been briefed on how to carry out their duties in collaboration with other security agencies and stakeholders and will remain neutral on the field to ensure the security of the electorate, stakeholders, and election officials.

The statement added that various NSCDC units, such as undercover operatives, Arms Squad, operatives in the Counter-Terrorism unit, CG’s Special Intelligence Squad, Female Special Force, Rapid Response Squad, Crack Squad, and Anti-vandal Unit, have been detailed to prevent any potential disruptions that could breach the peace during the elections.

“The corps made the mass deployment in the affected states where elections are to be held. Our personnel are adequately briefed on how to discharge their duties in synergy with other security agencies and stakeholders,” Audi noted.

He added: “We will remain neutral on the field to ensure the security of the electorate, other stakeholders and election officials and no act of sabotage will be tolerated.

“In order to have a hitch-free exercise, undercover operatives, Arms Squad, operatives in the Counter-Terrorism, CG’s Special Intelligence Squad, Female Special Force, Rapid Response Squad, Crack Squad and Anti-vandal Unit are all detailed to prevent any vacuum which saboteurs may leverage to perpetrate any act that could breach peace in the states.”

The NSCDC commandant stressed the importance of contestants accepting the election’s outcome or seeking redress through legal channels as provided by the law.