The Rivers State Commandant Michael Besong Ogar FCAI has reiterated on the readiness of the Command to provide adequate security before, during and after the 2023 General Elections.
Speaking with the newsmen during a Pre-Election Media briefing at the Command Headquarters of the NSCDC in Port Harcourt; the Rivers State Commandant affirmed that the Command is fully prepared for the Saturday 25th and 11th March 2023 Elections noting that the Corps’ preparedness was informed by the determination to remain apolitical, neutral and highly professional while on election duty.
He further hinted that the training and re-training programs organized internally as well as in conjunction with the INEC, the Nigeria Police and other Sister Security Agencies in the State have been very impactful hence the NSCDC officers and men are well informed on the election operational guidelines, the provisions of the electoral Act 2022, the NSCDC Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) amongst others.
“With the level of the the training programs we have organized for our personnel couple with the Election Security Personnel (ESP) joint trainings you can be rest assured that there would be effective security coverage in the elections”.
“In tandem with the directive of the Commandant General Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi mni OFR; the Rivers State Command has deployed 5,255 officers and men drawn from the various 23 Local Government Area, Departments and Units of the Command”.
“In addition, about 105 operational vehicles, 4 Gun Boats and Special Forces from the Intelligence Squad, Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear Explosives Unit (CBRNE), Armed and Antivandal Unit of the Command have been fully briefed and deployed”.
Commandant Ogar maintained that the level of collaborations amongst the security agencies with the Nigeria Police as the lead agency in election security; the sensitive and insensitive INEC materials, INEC Ad hoc Staff and the election environment would be adequately secured to enhance a serene and peaceful election process.
The Command helmsman called on critical stakeholders such as party leaders, their supporters, traditional institutions, religious bodies and the general public to consciously make concerted efforts in ensuring that the elections are free, fair and credible in Rivers State.
He urged the voters to remain calm and cast their votes in a peaceful manner shunning all forms of electoral violence as the security agencies would not hesitate to arrest anyone who distrupts the peaceful conduct of the elections.
SIGNED:
DSC OLUFEMI AYODELE Anipr.
PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
NSCDC RIVERS STATE COMMAND
