The Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC ), Lagos State Command, Commandant of Corps (CC) Usman Ishaq Alfadarai, has assured the media of his cooperation and the continuous enhancement of the good working relationship already established between the corps and the media in Lagos State as well as across the federation.
The Commandant in a statement, yesterday, urged his personnel to protect the rights of voters, cooperate with all stakeholders involved in the conduct of the electioneering process to achieve greater peace in the state during and after elections.
He stressed that a continuous good working relationship with the media is even more needed, at this critical time when the nation is conducting general elections.
He commended the media for their support, so far, since his resumption in the state and asked them to continue to maintain their professional ethics, principles in reporting news about the activities of the corps in the state.
The State Commandant, directed patrol teams to calm situations in various places also visited, over forty polling units at least in about 10 Local Councils of the state to de-escalate reported situations of pockets of violence and rumours of violence, during the exercise on Saturday, around Ikeja, Agege, Alimosho, Oshodi, Aguda, Ikate, Surulere and Oshodi, before voting was concluded.
Alfadarai further deployed special patrol teams attached to cover the 20 councils and 37 development areas, with the focus to abort any form of violence and break down of law and order during and after the elections in the state.
Having deployed a total number of three thousand six hundred and forty ( 3,640 ) officers and men to the various strategic fields ; such as the offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ), collation centres, various polling units, locations and points across the state, CC Usman Alfadarai, urged his men to do more as security agencies to achieve greater success of the exercise and ensure the maintenance of peace, law and order in the state.
The above aforementioned tactical patrol teams of personnel in the NSCDC uniforms were drawn from various departments and units, such as; Operation, Anti- Vandal, Armed Squad, CNAI, Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear and Explosives (CBRNE ) Unit, Quick Intervention Squad ( QIS ), Agro – Rangers, Crisis and Disaster Management, Counter – Terrorism, Peace and Conflict Management et ce tera.
The State Commandant also read riot act to the tactical patrol teams and charged them on professional conduct, respect for media men and women, protection of fundamental human rights of citizens, while discharging their duties across the different councils of the state.
“The Corps sees the media as partners in progress and not the other way round and will do everything within the confines of the law to maintain that symbiotic relationship, without prejudice to any media organisations, outlets or platforms.”
