According to Ahmed Audi, the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Corps will send 102,000 employees to the general elections on February 25 and March 11, 2023, respectively.
In a statement that was signed in Abuja on Tuesday by Olusola Odumosu, the corporation’s Director of Public Relations, Audi made the disclosure.
Audi stated that the Anti-vandalism Squad and Special Forces would also be deployed to all critical national assets and infrastructure, including flashpoints in the states and the FCT, to protect them from vandalism, damage, or arson by criminal elements prior to, during, and after the elections. This was in addition to reassuring Nigerians of general security coverage throughout the country.
For the Presidential/National Assembly and Governorship/State Assembly Elections, he stated, “The Corps would be deploying a total of 102,000 officials.”
“The Corps shall engage officers from the Special Forces, such as the Arms Squad Unit, Counter Terrorism, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Explosives Unit, Female Squad, and Rapid Response Squad K9, in order to successfully complete this assignment.
“Our specially trained undercover personnel have been dispatched from each Command to work effectively with other Security Agencies to maintain surveillance, provide intelligence reports, and update on the security situation in various states, particularly on flashpoints,” the statement reads.
State commandants, Deputy Controllers General, zonal commanders, and other senior Corps officers have been appointed to oversee the nationwide exercise and monitor field operations, according to Audi.
In addition, the CG urged Corps officials to maintain synergy with other security agencies in order to ensure a smooth poll and a crime-free environment for eligible voters to exercise their voting rights.
While advising the NSCDC officers to carry out their responsibilities with professionalism, the CG also warned that any staff member who undermined the rule of law would face punishment.
“There will be no compromise because officers and men of the Corps have been well trained to serve the nation with humility and integrity.
“The NSCDC officials deployed to this assignment must comply with the Corps’ Operational Code and apply the principles of the Rule of Law in the performance of their duties, as any NSCDC members’ conduct that negates or undermines the rule of law will be severely sanctioned.”