NSCDC Commandants meeting Abuja in preparation for the general elections
*Sets in place last minute strategies
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC), and the Korad-Adenauer Stifung, (KAS), has said that fears of violence during the upcoming 2023 general elections are currently being contained by security agencies in the country.
Commandant General of the NSCDC, associate professor, Ahmed Audi, reassured that even though there are security threats and concerns over the coming polls, these threats are currently being contained as strategies are already in place and are constantly being reviewed to nib in the bud-identified trouble areas.
Speaking at a two-day capacity building organized for all state commandants and management of the NSCDC, with support from the foundation as part of security preparation for the coming general elections, yesterday in Abuja.
He said the trajectory of how insecurity is unfolding in Nigeria shows that there are indeed some security threats but after conducting a threat analysis, those are now being contained by the security agencies.
He said “the attacks and all these security threats are going down. Now the security agencies have taken very proactive measures in dealing with and facing crimes head-on and this is evident in the visible arrests here and there as well as prosecutions.
“Many things are unfolding because of the bringing on board both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches and because of the speculations that there might be violence during the elections, we are going to deploy as many personnel as we can for the polls.
Audi also noted that the NSCDC has a population of both regular staff and volunteers and all will be drafted towards ensuring peaceful polls.
“The police is the lead agency in elections security so we are working closely with them” and other sister security agencies, he explained.
In her presentation, KAS Resident Representative, Marija Peran, warned that with the elections drawing close, insecurity will impact voter turnout and may affect the outcome of the 2023 general elections unless holistically addressed.
She said the present fear for safety amidst the rate of attacks on lives and property across the country, poses a significant threat to the success of the 2023 general elections compounded by several security-related incidents last year such as the series of prison breaks with the successful release of reported terrorists around the country,
“With free and fair elections being the cornerstone of every democracy, security agencies provide an important opportunity to advance democratization and encourage political freedom giving citizens a platform to choose a new government till the next periodic elections.
“Therefore it is important for security personnel to exhibit neutrality during elections rather than being partisan to political parties, candidates or other primordial interests,” she said.
According to her, while Nigeria is spending a lot of money on military expenditure, some sources reveal that insecurity is still rising and the number of displaced and vulnerable populations is increasing the need for immediate action.