By Adadainfo
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps will deploy 102,000 personnel for the presidential/National Assembly and governorship/state Assembly elections scheduled for February 25th and March 11th, 2023, respectively.
Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi, its commandant general, in a release, Tuesday, assured Nigerians that the forthcoming elections would be seamless ‘despite pockets of security challenges in some parts of the country’.
He stated this in a statement by CC Olusola Odumosu, the corps’ director of public relations.
The CG said the corps had evolved a comprehensive deployment plan ‘to enhance general security coverage nationwide and ensure that electorate are not molested or intimidated by hoodlums or party thugs before, during and after the elections’.
According to him, NSCDC had activated ‘a robust operational guideline that would ensure credible, hitch-free and successful elections’.
He added that there would be the deployment of the Anti-vandalism Squad and Special Forces to all critical national assets and infrastructure, including flashpoints in the states and Abuja to protect them against vandalism, damage or arson by criminal elements before, during and after the elections.
In his words, “The corps shall engage officers from the Special Forces, such as Arms Squad Unit, Counter Terrorism, Chemical, Biological Radiological and Explosives Unit (CBRNE), Female Squad, Rapid Response Squad (RRR), K9 and SWAT Unit, different from the regular conventional personnel.
“Our specially trained undercover personnel have been dispatched from each command to work effectively with other security agencies to maintain surveillance, and provide intelligence reports and updates on the security situation in different States, especially on flashpoints.”
He said state commandant ‘shall be responsible for field operations throughout the elections and a monitoring team made up of the DCG Operations and other DCGs, Zonal Commanders and other Senior Officers of the Corps have been constituted to effectively monitor and supervise the exercise nation wide’.
He directed that, in addition to the unified ICESS code of conduct for Security Agencies, NSCDC officers deployed to this assignment ‘must comply with the corps’ Operational Code, adding that ‘the principles of the rule of law must be applied in the discharge of their duties, as any conduct of NSCDC staff that negates or undermines the rule of law will be seriously sanctioned’.
The CG urged personnel of the corps ‘to work in harmony with other security agencies by sustaining the synergy towards ensuring a hitch-free poll and guarantee a crime-free environment to enable eligible voters to exercise their voting rights’.
He charged officers and men to display professionalism, ‘be apolitical and maintain a high sense of discipline throughout the election period’.
According to him, “Officers and men of the corps are to acquaint themselves with the provisions of the Electoral Act as regards the Rules of Engagement for the overall success of the elections.”
