The Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Undie Adie, has assured the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, that corps members engaged for the 2019 general elections will receive special attention from his command.
The new Commissioner of Police who resumed work recently gave the assurance when he played host to NYSC Ondo State management team at the Command Headquarters, Igbatoro Road, Akure.
“The Nigeria Police, Ondo State Command, has a duty to provide security and protect the lives of every person that will participate in the election, but I want to assure you that corps members will be adequately protected before, during and after the elections,” he said.
The Police boss said that his Command knew the patriotic roles the corps members were playing nationwide during special assignments such as sensitive ad-hoc duties with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
He said, “We need to make them feel secured and protected and the Command in Ondo State is ready to act and discharge our duties to all citizens in line with the Nigeria Police charge,” he added.
Earlier in her speech, the NYSC State Coordinator, Mrs. Grace Akpabio, said she was at the command headquarters to solicit the assistance of the Police in ensuring maximum protection for the corps members participating in the general elections.
Mrs. Akpabio recounted the ordeal faced by corps members in the rescheduled elections where they expressed fear of what befell them when they were left unprotected throughout the period of the rescheduled election.
“Majority of the corps members engaged as INEC ad-hoc staff painfully and fearfully said that most of the security personnel that were supposed to be attached to the RACs did not show up because they were guarding the sensitive materials.
“I am here to seek the assistance of the Commissioner of Police and plead with you to deploy enough officers to all the Registration Area Centres. We know that the dearth of personnel is manifesting in every sector but try and use your good offices to secure my corps members,” she said.
The State Coordinator said that NYSC as a responsible and responsive leading youth organisation in Africa could not afford to toy with the lives of members of the service corps.
Mrs. Akpabio prayed for the successful tenure of the Commissioner of Police and improved relationship with NYSC in the state.
