Anambra 2021: NSCDC Deploys 20,000 Officers & Men

• CG warns personnel to use minimal force

The Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Ahmed Audi, has charged personnel deployed for election duties in Anambra State to adhere strictly to rules of engagement and display the highest level of professionalism, civility and decorum.

He urged them to have respect for the rights of all voters coming out to exercise their franchise to elect the next governor for the state.

DCC Olusola Odumusu Director, Public Relations NSCDC, in a statement on Friday said Dr. Ahmed made this known to officers and men when he paid a situational assessment visit to Anambra State, ahead of the Saturday, November 6, governorship election.

According to him, Dr. Ahmed read the Riot Act to personnel and charged them on the use of minimal force and utmost professional conduct during the exercise.

He expressed confidence in the preparedness of INEC and all stakeholders involved in the electioneering process.

Dr. Ahmed reassured residents that, the election would hold peacefully and successfully without rancour or acrimony as the Corps is working in synergy and collaboration with other sister agencies to forestall any form of attack on voters, security agencies, sensitive and non-sensitive election materials, including INEC permanent and ad-hoc staff as well as all other apparatuses deployed to ensure a hitch-free election.

He warned personnel to be civil in their approach and avoid excessive use of force, molestation, intimidation or harassment of voters during the election.

He also reiterated that the Corps has a duty to protect the lives and property of all citizens of the state irrespective of their political affinity, adding that, the NSCDC is apolitical in nature, civil in orientation but very dogged in its operations.

He appealed to all citizens of the state to embrace peace and eschew violence or anything that is capable of jeopardizing the democratic process warning that election is not war.

He emphasised the need to avoid unnecessary casualties and urged the people of the state to be law-abiding and go about their legitimate businesses without any fear of violent or deadly attacks.

He assured residents that, measures have been put in place ahead of the process to guarantee a well-secured environment and arrest any breach of peace or vandalism of critical national assets and infrastructure of government before, during and after the election.

He reiterated that the Corps would be deploying the twenty thousand (20) personnel drawn from Anambra State and other neighbouring state commands to all nooks and crannies of the state for overt and covert operations.

He warned arms-bearing personnel that accidental discharges are not contained in the Corps’ Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), as such, no one should be found wanting in this regard because human life is very sacrosanct and any personnel that takes laws into his hands by killing or maiming anyone unjustly will be seriously dealt with.