Twenty thousand personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps,NSCDC, have been deployed for the poll.

The NSCDC directed its acting Deputy Commandant General, Operations, Hillary Madu, to relocate to Edo State for the purpose of the election.

He is to be assisted by two Assistant Commandant Generals in charge of Zone G Benin and Zone E Owerri, with five commandants drawn from neighbouring states.

Its Commandant General, Abdullahi Gana, who gave the directive, warned that any personnel caught in any act of misconduct would be dealt with in accordance to the law and ethics of the corps.

While the personnel are to be re-deployed from Kogi, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa and Anambra Commands to complement the deployment of personnel from Edo Command,’’ Gana said.

Gana advised the personnel to work in synergy with other sister security agencies in order to ensure peaceful conduct of the election.

He also approved the deployment of sniffer dogs, specialised units such as the SWAT, CBRN, CTU, Undercover and Special Forces to protect the Critical Infrastructures and national assets in the state and its environs.

Gana said this was to prevent them from being vandalised by criminal-minded people who took advantage of activities like this to carry out their nefarious act.

He also urged the citizens of the state to come out en masse to exercise their franchise without fear or favour, adding that they should vote the candidate of their choice without any form of coercion.

Gana called on parents to be on the look-out for their children and wards, and ensure that they were of best behaviour ever, before, during and after the poll, charging the youths in the state to shun thuggery and all forms of vices that negate peaceful conduct of election.

He stressed the need for them not to allow themselves to be used by any person to carry out any form of satanic acts, saying those politicians and their supporters would never bring their sons or daughters to carry out such dirty jobs.

The Commandant General said synergy amongst security operatives was a must, as no man could achieve success alone without good team work at all times.