NSCDC Deploys 6,400 Officers for Edo Guber, Emphasizes Conduct, Security

The Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, has ordered the deployment of 6,433 officers and men to Edo State to ensure the smooth and hitch-free conduct of the gubernatorial election scheduled for Saturday.

In a statement released on Wednesday, NSCDC Public Relations Officer, Babawale Afolabi, emphasized that the personnel must remain apolitical, act professionally, and maintain discipline while on election duty. Audi highlighted the crucial role of the NSCDC in protecting critical national assets and infrastructure, stressing the importance of securing election materials both sensitive and otherwise.

The deployment plan includes over 300 operatives each from Ondo, Delta, Kogi, Osun, Imo, and Enugu states. The Edo State Command will have approximately 3,626 officers on the ground, with Rivers and Bayelsa States contributing 400 and 350 personnel respectively. Additionally, 607 Special Forces from the National Headquarters will be deployed, including the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad, Special Female Squad, Anti-Vandal Squad, Chemical Biological Radiological and Explosive Unit, and the K9 Unit.

Audi assured that the deployment would cover all areas, including flashpoints, wards, polling units, collation centers, and INEC offices. He stressed the need for synergy with other security agencies to ensure a peaceful election. Special Forces and the Anti-Vandal Squad will focus on protecting government facilities and critical infrastructure, with undercover officers already in place to monitor and report on security situations across all 18 local governments in Edo State.

Audi also urged politicians to avoid actions that could disrupt the election process, including violence, thuggery, and ballot box snatching. He warned parents and guardians to prevent their children from being used in electoral violence, stating that those arrested would face legal consequences in accordance with existing laws.

The Deputy Commander General in charge of Operations, DCG Philip Ayuba, has been tasked with overseeing the overall supervision, monitoring, and effective coordination of the deployed personnel before, during, and after the election.