The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC has announced the deployment of 20, 000 officers and men to complement sister-security agencies in ensuring a free, fair and credible election in Anambra State November 6 governorship election.
This is in addition to the 34,587 police personnel deployed for the election.
Commandant General of the Corps, Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi disclosed this on Friday in Abuja in his keynote address at the opening of a 3-day “Train the Trainers Capacity Building and Electoral Workshop” in preparation for the Anambra election.
“There are flash points. The Corps in collaboration with other Security Agencies have developed strategies to checkmate any act of electoral violence and other nefarious activities capable of undermining the electoral process. Any act of sabotage and negative tendencies to frustrate democracy and good governance in this election will be severely dealt with.
“The risk factors associated with election has been aggravated by other security threats such as, Separatist agitators (IPOB, ESN) kidnapping, thuggery, ballot box snatching and electoral frauds. To ensure effective monitoring before, during and after the election, the NSCDC will be deploying 20,000 officers and men for the conduct of the election.
“The personnel to be deployed for this national assignment will be draftted from all the South-South and South-East State Commands to join their counterparts in Anambra State. In addition, personnel from Kogi, Ekiti, Ondo and Benue have been placed on standby in case there is need for reinforcement.
“The Corps shall deploy officers from the Special Forces, such as the Arms Squad Unit, Counter Terrorism unit, Anti-vandal unit, Intelligence and Investigations, Canine unit, SWAT unit, Chemical Biological Radiological and Explosives Unit (CBRNE) to all key points in the State to protect lives and property, sensitive and non-sensitive election materials, INEC officials and all critical assets against vandalism, damage or arsonist attacks”, said Dr Audi
