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The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has deployed 10,000 personnel from 10 state commands to strengthen security ahead of the August 15 Osun State governorship election.
The deployment, ordered by the Commandant-General, Prof. Abubakar Audi, is expected to commence on Monday and is aimed at ensuring a peaceful and secure electoral process.
NSCDC spokesman, Babawale Afolabi, said the personnel were drawn from the commands in Oyo, Ondo, Ekiti, Ogun, Lagos, Kwara, Edo, Kogi, Delta and the Federal Capital Territory, with about 1,000 personnel from each command.
The corps said the officers, comprising uniformed and undercover personnel, would complement its existing strength in Osun and provide security for voters, electoral officials, observers, journalists and residents across the state's 30 local government areas.
Audi also ordered the deployment of specialised units, including the Special Intelligence Squad, Special Weapons and Tactics Unit, Female Squad, Mining Marshals, Special Strike Force, Crack Squad and K9 Unit.
The units are expected to support intelligence gathering, crime prevention, protection of critical infrastructure, crowd control and other election-related operations.
The Deputy Commandant-General in charge of Operations, Ayuba Phillip, alongside other senior officers, will relocate to Osun to coordinate and supervise the corps' election security operations.
Audi urged the personnel to remain professional, neutral and respectful of citizens' rights while carrying out their duties.
He warned political thugs and other criminal elements against attempting to disrupt the election, stressing that anyone seeking to undermine the process would face the law.
The NSCDC said it would work with the police, military and other security agencies under the existing inter-agency security framework to ensure effective coordination throughout the election.
The deployment comes as security preparations intensify for the poll, with the Nigeria Police Force earlier announcing the deployment of 15,000 personnel to Osun State.
