Osun guber: NSCDC deploys 10,210 personnel to boost security

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 that the personnel deployed comprised 10,000 operational officers while the remaining 210 were from intelligence and specialised tactical units.

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He also said that 1,000 of the deployed personnel were drawn from 10 state commands of the corps.

He added that the Commandant General (CG), Ahmed Audi, had directed the deployment of specialised formations with capabilities suited for the security needs of the election.

Afolabi said that the deployment includes 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 Osun that the NSCDC would remain professional, impartial and respectful of the rights of all residents throughout the electoral 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 said.

Meanwhile, the Osun State Commandant of the NSCDC, 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.

”I urge you not to put the name of the corps into disrepute. Be apolitical, maintain neutrality and respect fundamental human rights.

”Discharge your duties strictly in line with the corps’ Standard Operating Procedures and other extant laws guiding election security operations,” he advised.

The commandant also directed Area Commanders to ensure that personnel under their supervision remained disciplined, professional and responsive to security needs.

He described the NSCDC as a professional, non-partisan agency responsible for protecting lives and property, critical national assets and infrastructure, as well as supporting the maintenance of peace and public order.

He further urged personnel to exhibit civility and respect for the electorate, noting that the election was a constitutional exercise.

He said the role of security personnel was to provide a safe and enabling environment for citizens to exercise their franchise without fear or intimidation.

Sotiyo reiterated the Command’s readiness to deploy personnel professionally and responsibly, stressing that the corps would not compromise its neutrality or constitutional responsibilities.

He urged the public to cooperate with security personnel and report suspicious activities through appropriate channels, assuring that the Command would remain vigilant before, during and after the election.