Ahead of the September 21 Gubernatorial election in Edo State, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corp (NSCDC) has deployed 6,433 of its personnels to the state to beef up security.
This was contained in a press statement on Wednesday by the corp.
According to the Commandant General,Ahmed Audi, the corps has a vital role to play in the election as they are involved in the protection of sensitive and non-sensitive election materials .
He mentioned that the many manpower of personnels to Edo State is because the Elections is not a general election and thus, personnels will be enough to handle all the wards, polling units and centres.
He said: “The corps has a vital role to play in ensuring the protection of election materials, both sensitive and non-sensitive, before, during and after the election.
“Since we do not have a general election, we have enough personnel to deploy across wards, polling units, collation centres, INEC offices and other areas.
“Our deployment for the Edo governorship election will cover all nooks and crannies, including flashpoints.
“All personnel deployed are to work in synergy with other security agencies to ensure a peaceful conduct of the election.
“Officers and men deployed were drawn from the corps’ headquarters special forces, the CG’s special intelligence unit, anti-vandal squad, Chemical Biological Radiological and Explosive Unit, Kennel (K9) unit, amongst others.”
Audi further stated that the special forces and anti-vandal units are tasked with safeguarding government facilities and infrastructure, emphasising the need for increased focus on the identified flashpoints and areas of volatility.
“The undercover officers have also been deployed before now to maintain round-the-clock surveillance and provide up-to-date intelligence reports and real-time security situations from the 18 local governments in Edo.
“Citizens should shun all forms of violence, thuggery, snatching of the ballot box and any other form of electoral malpractices that could disrupt the peaceful conduct of the election.”
He emphasised the critical importance of cautioning parents and guardians to prevent their children from being exploited as tools of violence. He urged them to be vigilant against the influence of desperate politicians who may seek to incite chaos and electoral violence.
“Anyone arrested would be charged accordingly in compliance with the extant laws,” Mr Audi stated.
