The Commandant-General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Abubakar Audi, has vowed that the corps would decisively deal with anyone attempting to disrupt the electoral process during the August 15 governorship election in Osun State.
Audi gave the warning on Thursday during an operational visit to the state to assess security preparedness and strengthen coordination ahead of the election.
“We don’t want any bloodshed. We will decisively deal with anyone who attempts to disrupt the electoral process,” the statement by the agency’s spokesman, Afolabi Babawale, quoted him as saying.
During the visit, Audi met with the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke; officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission and personnel of the corps’ state command.
At the meeting with Adeleke, the governor commended the CG for personally undertaking the operational visit and praised the corps for its protection of critical national assets and infrastructure in the state.
Adeleke, however, expressed concern over what he described as recent security threats from political factions allegedly aimed at intimidating voters.
The governor urged the NSCDC to deploy adequate personnel to neutralise security threats and ensure the arrest of anyone planning violence or seeking to disrupt the election.
Audi subsequently visited the INEC State Headquarters, where he met with the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola.
The CG reaffirmed the corps’ responsibility for protecting critical national assets, including electoral materials and facilities, and assured INEC of the corps’ full operational support, as he warned against vandalism and interference with the electoral process.
“The NSCDC is an integral part of election security. We are partners in this process, and anyone who attempts to vandalise assets or interfere with the election will be seriously dealt with,” Audi said.
Babalola thanked the CG for the visit and commended the cooperation between the electoral commission and the corps, saying his presence demonstrated leadership and commitment to the electoral assignment.
At the corps’ state command headquarters, Audi addressed personnel deployed for the election and directed them to maintain professionalism and strictly abide by the rule of law.
He warned officers against being trigger-happy and instructed them to adhere to the established rules of engagement.
The CG also directed personnel to maintain close collaboration with sister security agencies, particularly the Nigeria Police Force, which he identified as the lead agency in election security operations.
