By Isiaka Mustapha/Editor-In-Chief, People’s Security Monitor in Benin-City
Pix: Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps
For the Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi-led Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), it was a mission accomplished last Saturday during the Edo governorship election. Its operatives braved various security threats to provide water-tight security, ensuring the safeguarding of people’s votes and a credible election.
Of course, the NSCDC’s feat at the Edo governorship election came as a pleasant surprise to most people who are conversant with the enviable track record of its Commandant General, Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, whose passion for hard work, professionalism, and ethical compliance is described as ‘acute.’
In a proactive measure ahead of election day, Dr. Audi ensured the deployment of 6,433 officers and men for the election exercise in Edo, instructing them to pay premium attention to professionalism and the ethical dictates of the NSCDC code of conduct.
Dr Audi said the NSCDC has a vital role to play in the protection of critical national assets and Infrastructure; he noted that the security of election materials, both sensitive and otherwise, has become very vital for the operatives before, during and after the election.
The breakdown of the assigned operatives, as obtained, showed over 300 operatives each from Ondo, Delta, Kogi, Osun, Imo, and Enugu, merged with Edo’s 3,626 officers on the ground for the election, while Rivers and Bayelsa State commands drafted in 400 and 350 personnel, respectively.
Additionally, 607 Special Forces were deployed from the National Headquarters, which comprised the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad, Special Female Squad, Anti Vandal Squad, Chemical Biological Radiological and Explosive Unit, while Kennel (K9) Unit was also on ground for the governorship election.
According to CG Audi, “Our deployment for the Edo governorship election was designed to cover all nooks and crannies, including flash points. Since we do not have a general election, we had enough operatives across wards, polling units, collation centres, INEC office, and other areas.”
Despite the heavy downpour that heralded the election, all the deployed NSCDC personnel who had arrived in Edo ahead of time were seen converged on the ground of the Edo NSCDC Command as early as 8 am, under the supervision of the CG’s representative, Deputy Commandant General and Head of Operations of the Corps, DCG Philip Ayuba, in the company of the state helmsman of the NSCDC, Commandant Gbenga Agun, and other top ranking officers of the Corps.
In his speech at the gathering, DCG Philip Ayuba on behalf of, CG Audi noted that the NSCDC could not afford to disappoint the nation considering its impressive track records in the past elections
”We are fully prepared for this election; we know how crucial it is, and we know that it is a form of litmus test to show our strength ahead of the 2027 general elections. We have put in place all the necessary steps and measures to ensure a hitch-free election in Edo State tomorrow.
“We are strongly determined to ensure a credible election. We understand that security is a major determining factor for a credible election, so we cannot afford to disappoint Nigerians. We have always done it right, and I can assure you that it won’t be different this time.
”Our Commandant General, Dr Ahmed Audi, has provided us with all the necessary guidelines to ensure smooth operations, so therefore there is no room for failure.
”Let me also emphasize that, much as we work towards hitch free election tomorrow, we have also steeped up our surveillance of the national critical assets, that l can assure you.
“In the same breath, we are also going to work very hard to ensure that we are not infiltrated by imposters who might be hell-bent on taking advantage of our uniform. Let me quickly say that we shall fish them out no matter how they try to hide. We do have internal mechanisms to achieve this, and I can assure you, so let them not try it.”
Leading the NSCDC team, DCG Ayuba ensured that virtually all the polling booths in Benin city were visited for on the spot assesement, while communication was sustained with officers and men deployed outside the state capital.
Most of the voters interviewed expressed their gratitude to the NSCDC’s officers and men for providing them with an enabling environment to perform their civic responsibilities. They particularly commended the NSCDC operatives for their professional conduct and display of civility and candor towards the electorate.