The Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi has expressed the readiness of the Corps to ensure the provisions of a peaceful electoral process in Edo State.
He warned mischievous elements against election violence, saying adequate personnel has been deployed to go all out for trouble-makers.
Audi said the Corps is committed to safeguarding all critical national assets and infrastructure and providing secyurity for Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Staff and all election materials from the distribution point to various Polling Units and the collation centres.
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A statement by the Corps Public Relations Officer, Babawale Afolabi, on Friday said the CG He further stressed the need for deployed personnel to remain neutral and nonpartisan, charging them to be good ambassadors of the Corps and the nation at large.
Audi called on all eligible voters and politicians to embrace peaceful conduct of the election under a serene environment and avoid provocative words and actions that could trigger violence before, during and after the Governorship election.
Addressing 6,464 Officers drawn from the National Headquarters, Edo, Delta, Kogi, Bayelsa, Rivers, Aondo, Anambra, Ekiti, Imo and Enugu States, the Commandant General who was represented by the Deputy Commandant General Operations, DCG Phillip Ayuba.
Explained that it is the statutory duty of the Corps to provide security in collaboration with other security agencies.
He maintained that some personnel have been specifically deployed to ensure the protection of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure (CNAI) and electoral materials and sternly warned against all forms of unprofessionalism and partisanship.
“The Corps is an elite agency with respect for citizens’ fundamental human rights; you must, therefore, conduct yourselves appropriately and be apolitical before, during and after the exercise”.
The Corps’ helmsman assured the public of safety and urged them to be law-abiding citizens, cautioning mischief makers to abort all plans that could interrupt the smooth conduct of the elections.
In a related development, the representative of the CG in company of the Zonal Commander, Zone ‘G’, ACG KO Rasaki, Edo State Commandant, Agun Gbenga and other senior management staff officers held a meeting with Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Training, DIG Frank Mba at the State Police Command Headquarters .
In the meeting, he assured the police of peace conduct and seamless operations as the Personnel have been properly briefed and ready to work.
He explained that the Corps deemed it necessary to visit the Police DiG of the Nigerian Police a lead Agency in the election.
According to him, all service commanders in the state were to meet at the police headquarters to discuss how to collectively oversee the election.
