The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has deployed 10,000 personnel, including elite tactical squads and K9 units, to Ekiti State ahead of the forthcoming governorship election, in a major security operation aimed at ensuring a peaceful and credible poll.
The deployment, announced on Wednesday by the NSCDC National Headquarters in Abuja, is part of the Corps’ efforts to guarantee a violence-free atmosphere and protect the integrity of the electoral process.
According to the NSCDC, personnel have been mobilised from several neighbouring states, including Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Lagos, Kwara, Edo, Ogun and Kogi, alongside operational reinforcements from Zones 11 and 6.
The Corps said its specialised units, including the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (SIS), Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit, Specialized Female Squad, Mining Marshals, Special Force and Crack Squad, as well as the K9 Unit, have been placed on high alert to detect and neutralise any security threats before, during and after the election.
To coordinate the operation, the Commandant General, Ahmed Audi has designated the Deputy Commandant General in charge of Operations, Ayuba Phillips, to personally lead the security exercise on the ground in Ekiti State.
Reaffirming the Corps’ readiness, the Commandant General said the security operation was designed to protect voters, election officials and other stakeholders and to prevent any form of electoral violence.
“Our mission in Ekiti State is definitive: to protect the integrity of the democratic process and guarantee the safety of every voter, election official, and citizen. We will tolerate no form of electoral violence, thuggery, or disruption. Our specialized squads and tactical forces are fully briefed and strategically positioned to maintain absolute law and order,” he said.
The NSCDC also disclosed that it is working closely with other security agencies to provide comprehensive security coverage throughout the election period, stressing that all personnel have been directed to maintain professionalism, neutrality and civility in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
The deployment comes amid heightened preparations for the governorship election, with security agencies under pressure to prevent voter intimidation, electoral violence and other disruptions that have occasionally marred elections in parts of the country.
The Corps urged residents of Ekiti State to conduct themselves peacefully, turn out to exercise their civic rights without fear and promptly report suspicious activities to security personnel.
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