NSCDC Deploys Over 6,000 Personnel For Peaceful Edo Governorship Election

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has announced that 6,433 officers and men will be deployed to ensure a peaceful and secure Edo State Governorship Election.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Commandant General Dr Ahmed Audi emphasised the importance of maintaining apolitical conduct, professionalism, and discipline among deployed personnel. He emphasised the NSCDC’s critical role in protecting critical national assets and infrastructure, particularly election materials.

To ensure full coverage, the NSCDC is deploying over 300 officers from neighbouring states such as Ondo, Delta, Kogi, Osun, Imo, and Enugu. The Edo State Command will have 3,626 officers on the ground, with Rivers and Bayelsa States contributing 400 and 350, respectively.

607 Special Forces from the National Headquarters will be deployed to supplement the security presence, including the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad, Special Female Squad, Anti Vandal Squad, Chemical Biological Radiological and Explosive Unit, and K9 Unit.

Commandant General Audi confirmed that the deployment will cover all areas of the state, including known flashpoints. He stated that “our personnel will work in tandem with other security agencies to ensure the peaceful conduct of the election.”

Special forces and the anti-vandalism squad are tasked with safeguarding government facilities and infrastructure, with a particular emphasis on identified volatile areas.

Undercover officers have been deployed ahead of time to provide 24-hour surveillance and real-time security updates from all 18 local governments.

The Commandant General urged politicians to avoid inflammatory rhetoric and to conduct themselves peacefully.

He issued a strong warning against violence, thuggery, ballot box snatching, and other electoral malpractices, emphasising that anyone caught engaging in such behaviour would face prosecution.

Parents and guardians have also been urged to protect their children from being used as tools of violence by desperate politicians, with offenders facing legal consequences.

Commandant General Audi has assigned Deputy Commandant General Philip Ayuba the task of overseeing the overall supervision, monitoring, and coordination of deployed personnel throughout the electoral process.

The extensive deployment and stringent security measures demonstrate the NSCDC’s dedication to ensuring a peaceful and credible Edo State Governorship Election.