Osun Election: NSCDC Deploys 10,000 Personnel Ahead of August 15 Governorship Poll

• The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has deployed 10,000 personnel from 10 state commands to Osun State as part of heightened security measures ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

Osun Governorship Election, NSCDC, Ahmed Audi, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Osun Election, August 15 Election, Election Security, Nigeria Police, Electoral Act, Nigeria Politics

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has deployed 10,000 personnel from 10 state commands to Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

The Commandant-General of the NSCDC, Prof. Abubakar Audi, ordered the deployment as part of measures to strengthen security and ensure a peaceful, free and credible electoral process.

According to a statement by the NSCDC spokesman, Afolabi Babawale, the personnel, comprising uniformed and undercover officers, were drawn from the Oyo, Ondo, Ekiti, Ogun, Lagos, Kwara, Edo, Kogi, Delta and Federal Capital Territory commands.

About 1,000 personnel from each command are expected to reinforce existing security arrangements across the state.

The NSCDC said the deployment would complement its existing personnel in Osun and provide security for voters, electoral officials, observers, journalists and residents across the state’s 30 local government areas.

Audi also directed the deployment of specialised units, including the Commandant-General’s Special Intelligence Squad, Special Weapons and Tactics Unit, Specialised Female Squad, Mining Marshals, Special Strike Force, Crack Squad and K9 Unit.

According to the statement signed by Babawale, the specialised units will support intelligence gathering, crime prevention, protection of critical infrastructure and national assets, crowd control and other election-related security operations.

To ensure effective coordination, the Deputy Commandant-General in charge of Operations, Ayuba Phillip, alongside designated Assistant Commandant-Generals and other senior officers, will relocate to Osun State to supervise the corps’ election security operations.

Audi said personnel deployed for the election had been adequately briefed to remain professional, neutral and respectful of citizens’ rights throughout the exercise.

He stressed that the protection of election materials, electoral officials and voters remained a key responsibility of the corps.

“You have the responsibility of ensuring unbiased synergy with other security agencies on election duty to actualise a free, fair and credible election,” Audi said.

The NSCDC boss also warned political thugs and other individuals who might attempt to disrupt the election, saying such activities would not be tolerated.

He said security agencies would take action against anyone attempting to undermine the electoral process in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act.

The corps urged political parties, candidates, supporters and residents to conduct themselves peacefully and allow the democratic process to take its course.

It also said it would work closely with the Nigeria Police Force, military and other security agencies under the established inter-agency security framework to ensure effective coordination throughout the election period.

The deployment comes amid increased security preparations ahead of the August 15 Osun governorship election, with the Nigeria Police Force earlier announcing the deployment of 15,000 personnel to the state.