Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has launched a massive security operation in Osun State, deploying 10,210 personnel and an array of specialised tactical units ahead of Saturday's governorship election, in a sweeping move designed to protect voters, secure election materials, and send an unmistakable message to political thugs and criminal elements. The Commandant-General of the NSCDC, Professor Ahmed Abubakar Audi, ordered the deployment, which commenced on Monday, August 10, 2026, as part of the corps' commitment to ensuring that voters, electoral officials, observers, journalists and residents can participate in the electoral process without fear or intimidation.
The deployment comprises 10,000 personnel drawn from ten state commands – Oyo, Ondo, Ekiti, Ogun, Lagos, Kwara, Edo, Kogi, Delta and the Federal Capital Territory – with approximately 1,000 personnel from each command reinforcing the Osun State Command. The personnel include both uniformed and undercover officers, ensuring a layered security presence across the state's 30 local government areas.
But the scale of the operation extends far beyond numbers. Audi directed the deployment of the corps' most elite specialised formations, including the Commandant-General's Special Intelligence Squad (SIS), the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit, the Specialised Female Squad, Mining Marshals, the Special Strike Force, the Crack Squad and the K9 Unit. These specialised teams will complement the regular deployment through intelligence gathering, crime prevention and detection, protection of critical assets, crowd control and other security responsibilities within their respective areas of competence.
To ensure effective coordination and supervision, the Deputy Commandant-General in charge of Operations, DCG Ayuba Phillip, alongside designated Assistant Commandants-General and other senior officers, will relocate to Osun State to oversee the corps' election security operations. The NSCDC will work closely with the Nigeria Police Force, the military and other sister security agencies under the established inter-agency security framework to ensure effective coordination and a peaceful electoral environment across the state.
Audi issued a stern warning to those who might attempt to disrupt the electoral process. "In the light of the above, the NSCDC, in collaboration with other security agencies on election duty, will not tolerate any activity intended to jeopardise the election process; criminal-minded persons and political thugs willing to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the election would face the wrath of the law as prescribed in the Electoral Act," he declared. He assured the people of Osun State that the NSCDC would remain professional, impartial and respectful of the rights of all citizens throughout the electoral process.
The NSCDC helmsman emphasised the critical importance of protecting election materials and electoral officials. "As an agency saddled with the responsibility of protecting critical infrastructure and national assets, the safety and security of election materials and electoral officials are very critical alongside the electorate," he said. He urged personnel to ensure unbiased synergy with other security agencies on election duty to actualise a free, fair and credible election.
The massive deployment comes amid heightened security preparations for the August 15 governorship election, with the Nigeria Police Force earlier announcing the deployment of 15,000 personnel to the state. The election is expected to be fiercely contested between incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress, and Dr Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress, among other candidates. With 2,339,233 registered voters spread across 30 local government areas and 3,763 polling units, the security architecture has been designed to cover every corner of the state.
The NSCDC appealed to all political parties, candidates, supporters and residents to conduct themselves peacefully and allow the democratic process to take its course. Audi called on the people of Osun to remain calm, peaceful and vigilant, and to cooperate with security personnel throughout the election period. Members of the public were encouraged to report suspicious activities or security concerns promptly to the appropriate security authorities. With the deployment now underway and senior command officers already relocating to the state, the message from the NSCDC is unmistakable: the era of impunity on election day in Osun is over.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments