By Cajetan Mmuta
Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC) Dr Ahmed Audi, on Friday, warned personnel of the corps to adhere strictly to the rules of engagement and to apply minimum force as well as utmost professional conduct during the election.
He also tasked them to 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.
The NSCDC boss stated this when he paid a situational assessment visit to Anambra State ahead of the Saturday, November 6, governorship election.
Mr. Olusola Odumosu, the Director of Public Relations of the outfit in a statement with number AAA.003/CPRD/NHQ/ABJ/VOL.11/002 and available to newsmen in Awka the state capital said Dr. Audi expressed confidence in the preparedness of INEC and all stakeholders involved in the electioneering process, reassuring that the election would hold peacefully and successfully without rancor or acrimony.
He explained that the Corps was 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.
According to him, the person must use minimum force and utmost professional conduct during the exercise.
He told 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.
In addition, he warned them to be civil in their approach and avoid excessive use of force, molestation, intimidation, or harassment of voters during the election. Reiterating that, the Corps has a duty to protect the lives and property of all citizens of the state irrespective of their political affinity.
The NSCDC boss further emphasized that the outfit 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 as the election does not war, hence, the need to avoid unnecessary casualties.
Dr Audi 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 also reiterated that the Corps would be deploying the twenty thousand (20) personnel drawn from Anambra state and other neighboring state commands to all nooks and crannies of the state for overt and covert operations.
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The body warned 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 the 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.
“What is due to cease must be given to Ceaser and the era of monkey dey work, baboon dey chop is over under my administration”, he said.
