By Sam Oditah
#TrackNigeria: Mr Nnamdi Nwannukwu, the Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Abia, has charged officers and men of the command deployed for Saturday’s polls to be proactive and professional in the discharge of their duty.
Nwannukwu gave the charge in a statement issued in Umuahia on Thursday, stating that the command was fully prepared for the polls.
He said that 2,500 operatives, who worked in the Feb. 23 Presidential and National Assembly elections, would be deployed for Saturday’s exercise.
He said that the command would join other sister-security agencies in the state to provide adequate security for the people to be able to exercise their franchise.
He said that NSCDC had been part and parcel of the series of meetings of the Inter-Agencies Consultative Committee on Elections Security in Abia.
“We have held meetings to review our performance in the Feb. 23 polls. We also strategies and adopt new measures to strengthen and ensure adequate security before, during and after the polls.
“I can assure you that the safety of the electorate, election observers, officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission and election materials is fully guaranteed,” he said.
The commandant said that the command “has spread its dragnet across strategic areas of the state, especially the identified flash points.”
He warned that the long arm of the law would catch up with “any group or individual that would plot to disrupt the smooth conduct of the polls.”
“Any person or group that is arrested for allegedly fomenting violence during the polls would be made to face the full weight of the electoral law,” Nwannukwu said.
He urged political parties and their candidates to refrain from acts capable of causing crisis and disorder during the polls.
“Parties and their supporters should shun violence. Any one or group caught in acts likely to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the polls will be spared.
“Candidates should also restrain their supporters and thugs from engaging in thuggery.
“Any political thug that is arrested for disrupting the electoral process shall be prosecuted according to the law,” he said.
Nwannukwu commended the operatives of the command for their good performance in the last elections and urged them to scale up in Saturday’s exercise.
He also thanked Abia residents for their maturity and good conduct in the last polls and admonished them “not to rest on their oars.” (NAN)
