The General Officer Commanding 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Auwalu Mahmuda, has instructed troops deployed for election security duties in Osun State to maintain strict professionalism and adhere to the military’s Code of Conduct for Election Duty. The directive was issued Friday at the Engineer Construction Command in Ede, where soldiers are preparing to support the Nigeria Police Force during the state’s off-cycle governorship election.
According to a statement by the acting Deputy Director of 2 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, Mahmuda emphasized the troops’ critical responsibility under the army’s constitutional mandate to provide aid to civil authorities. The deployment operates under “Operation SAFE CONDUCT,” designed to support the police, which remains the lead agency for election security in Nigeria.
Mahmuda outlined specific operational parameters: soldiers will provide outer-cordon security and respond to security situations only when formally requested. They are directed to stay away from polling units entirely, intervening only against threats that could undermine the peaceful conduct of the election. “The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, expects nothing short of professional conduct by the troops in support of the NPF,” Mahmuda stated.
The GOC urged soldiers to reject sentiments, bias, and any actions that could compromise their duties, stressing that their conduct must be guided by Nigeria’s national interest. He further charged them to maintain discipline and a robust security posture without harassing members of the public. Mahmuda assured the troops that necessary resources have been provided for seamless execution of the operation.
Addressing residents, the GOC appealed for confidence in the security arrangements, assuring citizens that the deployment aims to maintain law and order while enabling them to freely exercise their constitutional rights. The operation reflects the military’s recurring role in supporting civilian-led electoral processes across Nigeria, where off-cycle Elections often attract heightened security deployments amid concerns over violence and electoral integrity.
