Anambra Election: Use Minimum Force, Civil Defence Commandant Tells 20,000 Deployed Personnel

The Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Dr. Ahmed Audi has read out the riot act to personnel of the agency on duty in Anambra for the success of the gubernatorial election in state, calling on them to use minimum force and conduct themselves professionally during the election.

Audi, who paid a situational assessment visit to the South East state, made it clear to the Corps personnel deployed for election duty in Anambra state that the rules of engagement must be strictly adhered to and all must observe the highest level of professionalism, civility, decorum and respect for the rights of all voters coming out to exercise their franchise in order to elect the next governor for the state.

He expressed confidence in the preparedness of INEC and all stakeholders involved in the electioneering process, reassuring that the election will hold peacefully and successfully without rancor 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, INEC permanent and ad-hoc staff and all other apparatuses deployed to ensure a hitch free election.

He warned the personnel of the Corps to be civil in their approach and avoid excessive use of force, molestation, intimidation or harassment of voters during the election, while reiterating that, the Corps has a duty to protect lives and property of all citizens of the state irrespective of their political affinity, even as he emphasized that NSCDC is apolitical in nature, civil in orientation but very dogged in its operations.

He however appealed to all citizens of the state to embrace peace and eschew violence or anything that is capable of jeopardizing the democratic process as election is not war, hence, the need to avoid unnecessary casualties.

He further urged the people of the state to be law abiding and go about their legitimate businesses without any fear of violent or deadly attacks as 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 will be deploying the 20,000 personnel drawn from Anambra state and other neighbouring state commands to all nooks and crannies of the state for overt and covert operations, warning the arms bearing personnel that accidental discharge is 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 law into his hands by killing or maiming anyone unjustly will be seriously dealt with.

He Congratulated the personnel on behalf of the Minister of Interior for the anticipated good conduct in the task ahead and assured them that their welfare and safety is uppermost in his mind and being given the best of attention under his leadership to motivate and encourage them to shun all vices of corruption and compromise which is capable of tarnishing the hard-earned reputation and integrity of the Corps.

He assured that: “What is due to Caesar must be given to Caesar and the era of monkey dey work, baboon dey chop is over under my administration.”

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

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