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It is an election, not war, yet NSCDC deploys 11,000 personnel, dogs, ahead of Anambra elections

The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), sets to deploy 11,00 personnel, 30 sniffer dogs, as it joins the list of security apparatus to cover the Anambra Governorship Elections.

The State Commandant of the Corps, Mr John Ahwen, made this known to news men at the State Capital, stating that the move is to ensure proper and adequate security of lives and properties.

He also revealed that four drones, ambulances and medical personnel, 115 vehicles, of which 15 will be deployed to the riverine areas of the State.

“The people of the State should feel free and secure to exercise their franchise during the election because the security agencies are out to protect them.”

According to the Commandant, the NSCDC personnel will be moved from seven States namely; Imo, Edo, Enugu, Abia, Rivers, Ebonyi and Delta.

The move is coming after the police vowed to send 28,000 policemen, gun boats, helicopters to the State, to provide security ahead of the polls.

The need for adequate security is to ensure peaceful pre and post-electoral processes, as elections in Nigeria are always marred with one form of violence or another.

Electoral violence in the nation is a norm, as seven out of eight elections conducted in the country since independence has seen some form of violence or another-1964/1965, 1979, 1983, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015.

After the 2011 elections, reports revealed that 800 people lost their lives and 65,000 people were displaced in the post electoral violence.

According to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRS), 58 people were killed in 61 incidences of electoral violence across 22 States between January and February of the 2015 General Elections.

Causes of electoral violence according to observers:

1. Corruption

2. Unemployment of youth

3. Inadequate Security

4. Proper sensitization of voters

5. Proper orientation of politicians as well as political parties among others.

In the build up to the State’s Governorship election in 2013, the then Inspector General of Police, MD Abubakar ordered the deployment of ten armoured tanks, fighter jets, armed naval boats and relocation of top officers to ensure a peaceful election

Electoral violence does not only happen in Nigeria but also some countries in Africa.

In the aftermath of Kenya elections in 2007, 1, 300 people lost their live and 600,000 were displaced after the elections result was announced.

In order to curb electoral violence, Ghana announced a one one-month amnesty program to it citizens after survey discovered that over 1million unregistered firearms are in the Country.

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