Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has assured residents of adequate security before, during and after the forthcoming Area Council elections scheduled for February 21.
FCT Commandant, Olusola Odumosu, on Friday gave the assurance while receiving a delegation from the National Peace Committee at the command headquarters in Wuse Zone 5, Abuja.
Odumosu said the command had made comprehensive security arrangements to prevent harassment, intimidation, or disruption of the electoral process by hoodlums and political thugs. He disclosed that 4,000 personnel would be deployed across the Federal Capital Territory to ensure a peaceful and transparent exercise.
“As one of the major stakeholders in election security, our operations will commence well before election day and will continue until results are announced without chaos or violence,” he said.
The commandant added that NSCDC personnel had undergone election-focused training conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), equipping them to effectively monitor the electioneering process. He noted that strategic meetings with divisional officers were held to ensure there would be no compromise in security arrangements.
According to him, covert operatives have also been deployed to identified flashpoints and crisis-prone polling centres to conduct surveillance and prevent any unforeseen incidents.
Odumosu urged voters to turn out en masse and exercise their civic rights without fear, expressing confidence in the synergy between the NSCDC and other security agencies to maintain law and order throughout the electoral process.
He also called on parents and guardians to caution their children against being used by desperate politicians to foment trouble, warning against financial inducements aimed at undermining the integrity of the elections.
The commandant commended the National Peace Committee for what he described as a timely and selfless intervention to promote peaceful, free and fair elections. He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to continuous collaboration with civil society organisations and election observers.
According to the Project Manager of the National Peace Committee, Asabe Ndahi, said the delegation’s visit was aimed at reviewing the evolving election security landscape in the FCT and exploring areas of cooperation ahead of the polls. She praised the NSCDC’s preparedness and expressed the committee’s willingness to sustain collaboration, noting that field reports from security agencies are critical to its research and election monitoring efforts.
The FCT Command reiterated its readiness to ensure a hitch-free Area Council election across the territory.
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