EDE — The General Officer Commanding, 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Auwalu Mahmuda, has charged troops deployed for the Osun State off-cycle governorship election to be professional and adhere strictly to the Code of Conduct for election duty.
He gave the directive on Friday, 7 August 2026, while addressing troops at the Engineer Construction Command, Ede, Osun State, who will be supporting the Nigeria Police Force during the election.
Major General Mahmuda described the assignment as part of the Nigerian Army’s constitutional role of providing aid to civil authority.
The operation, tagged “Operation SAFE CONDUCT”, will be in support of the Nigeria Police Force, which is the lead agency for the conduct of elections in Nigeria.
He stated that the troops are to provide outer cordon security and will only respond to situations when called upon.
“They must stay away from polling units, and respond appropriately to any security threat,” he said.
The GOC stressed that the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, expects nothing short of professional conduct from the troops in support of the NPF.
He charged them to “shun sentiments, or any form of bias, by ensuring that their actions and inactions are guided by Nigeria’s national interest.”
He also stressed the need for discipline and a robust but civil disposition, warning against harassment of citizens.
“Be disciplined and maintain a robust disposition, without harassing anybody throughout the period. Act and behave as well trained soldiers of the NA,” he said.
Major General Mahmuda reassured the troops that all requirements for the seamless conduct of Operation SAFE CONDUCT have been provided, and urged them to justify the confidence reposed in them.
He also appealed to the people of Osun State to have confidence in the security arrangements put in place for the smooth conduct of the election.
“Nobody will be harassed, as the security arrangements put in place is essentially for the maintenance of law and order for the people to freely exercise their constitutional rights,” he reassured.
The statement was signed by Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, Acting Deputy Director, 2 Division Army Public Relations.
