No fewer than 10,000 personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) will be on duty when the electorate in Edo State go to the polls next week to pick the next governor of the state.
The NSCDC members will be aided by sniffer dogs to ensure peace all through the process, according to the corps spokesperson, Emmanuel Okeh, quoting the Commandant General, Abdullahi Muhammadu.
The NSCDC boss also ordered the acting Deputy Commandant General, Operations, Hillary Madu, to relocate to Edo, to coordinate operations for a violent hitch-free election.
To support Madu are the Assistant Commandant Generals in Charge of Zone G, Benin and Zone E, Owerri, as well as five additional commandants from neighbouring states.
The Commandant General stated that personnel would be re-deployed from Kogi, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa and Anambra commands to complement officers and men of the Edo Command.
He advised the personnel to work in synergy with other sister security agencies to ensure the peaceful conduct of the election.
He warned against acts of misconduct and insubordination, saying anyone found wanting would be summarily dealt with.
Muhammadu also gave approval for the deployment of sniffer dogs, personnel from specialised units such as the SWAT, CBRN, CTU, Undercover and Special Forces to protect critical infrastructure and national assets in the state during and after the elections.
He then urged politicians to play by the rules and avoid using thugs and miscreants to unleash violence during the elections, saying “achieving victory is not a do-or-die affair, but victory comes from God alone.