Ahead of governorship election scheduled to hold on October 10, the Commandant General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Abdullahi Gana Muhammadu has approved the deployment of 7,079 personnel, sniffers dogs and Mobile Surveillance Vehicles to ensure a hitch free exercise.
The Commandant General made this statement while addressing officers and men at his National headquarters office in Abuja on Monday. He directed the DCG in charge of Operations, Mr. Kelechi Madu to head the operation with a view to ensuring optimal performance and result.
Gana said ‘’we are deploying 7,079 personnel for Ondo election, to be led by DCG Operations, 4 ACGs and 7 Commandants. To support their counterparts from Ondo command, we shall be deploying from neighbouring states like Lagos, Edo, Kwara, Ekiti, Ogun, Osun and Kogi’’. Equally, personnel from the SWAT unit, Counter Terrorism unit (CTU), Chemical Biological Radioactive Nuclear and Energy unit (CBRNE), Kernnel (K9), Disaster response unit, Medical, Crisis Management, Special Force, Anti-vandalism unit and Critical Protection Unit (CIPU) would also be deployed for the protection of Critical Infrastructure and National Assets, which are easy targets of vandalism during and after elections.
He maintained that the personnel to be deployed has been trained on the protocols of COVID-19 and would all be provided with face masks and hand sanitizers. The CG further directed the team lead, DCG Madu Hillary Kelechi to ensure that personnel remain apolitical and avoid any form of compromises in the conduct of their electoral assignment.
Gana said the Corps is ready to cooperate and synergise with other security agencies to ensure the safety of all residents in Ondo, electoral officials and materials before, during and after the elections.
He added that he will be deploying the surveillance and intelligence team to Ondo state ahead of the election for covert operations and provision of 24hours surveillance and protection for Critical Infrastructures and National Assets situated in the state and its environs from being vandalised by criminally minded individual(s).
The Corps Boss however, charges politicians within and outside the state to play by the rules, eschew violence and support the drive of President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure a free and fair election at all levels. He said it should not be a ‘do or die affair’ because whether they win or lose, Ondo state remains.
The NSCDC helmsman urged Ondo indigenes to go out en masse to exercise their franchise without fear or favour, and in doing so, should vote the candidate of their choice without any recourse to fear or intimidation. He also charged them to shun all forms of political violence as this will in no way bring growth and progress to their state.
He maintained that synergy amongst security operatives is essential, as no man can achieve success alone. Emphasising that good team work at all times help guarantees huge success.
DCC Emmanuel Okeh
CDPRO
