By Stephen Simon
Security has been significantly tightened across Osun State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election, with more than 25,000 security personnel deployed to strategic locations across the state.
The increased security presence became noticeable in Osogbo, the state capital, on Tuesday as soldiers, police officers, personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) took up positions at major roads, streets and other critical locations.
The deployment is aimed at preventing violence, intimidation, disruption of voting and other forms of electoral malpractice as the state enters the final phase of preparations for the election.
In all, about 25,310 security personnel have been deployed across Osun’s 30 local government areas. The figure includes 15,000 officers of the Nigeria Police Force, 10,210 NSCDC personnel and approximately 100 EFCC operatives.
The security agencies are expected to cover polling units, registration area centres, collation centres, electoral facilities, critical infrastructure and other locations considered vulnerable during the election.
Security has also been strengthened around the state headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osogbo following the arrival of sensitive electoral materials, including ballot papers and Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices.
Military and other security vehicles were seen around INEC facilities and other government installations as preparations continued for the distribution of electoral materials to local government areas and registration area centres.
The NSCDC accounts for one of the largest components of the deployment, with more than 10,000 personnel mobilised from neighbouring states, including Oyo, Ondo, Ekiti, Ogun, Lagos, Kwara, Edo, Kogi, Delta and the Federal Capital Territory.
The corps said it had deployed both uniformed and undercover personnel, alongside specialised units such as the Commandant-General’s Special Intelligence Squad, Special Weapons and Tactics Unit, Specialised Female Squad, Mining Marshals, Special Strike Force, Crack Squad and K9 Unit.
The police have also deployed conventional, mobile and tactical formations across the state, with personnel assigned to polling units and other strategic locations.
Meanwhile, the EFCC is expected to monitor the election for incidents of vote buying, financial inducement and other financial crimes capable of undermining the integrity of the electoral process.
The various security agencies will operate under an inter-agency framework to coordinate their activities before, during and after the election.
As part of the police security arrangement, Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, deployed Deputy Inspector-General of Police Ishyaku Mohammed to coordinate the police component of the election security operation.
The deployment was announced in Abuja by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu.
According to the IGP, Mohammed will work with other security agencies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) to ensure a peaceful, secure and credible election.
He will be supported by Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and Commissioners of Police deployed across the state’s three senatorial districts.
Disu said the senior officers would supervise operations, strengthen intelligence-led policing and ensure swift responses to emerging security threats.
He added that adequate measures had been put in place to protect voters, INEC officials, election materials, polling units, collation centres, accredited observers and media practitioners throughout the electoral period.
The NSCDC Commandant-General, Professor Ahmed Audi, similarly directed his personnel to remain professional, politically neutral and respectful of citizens’ rights during the election.
