President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed that police officers assigned to VIP security duties be withdrawn and returned to regular policing roles. The decision followed a security meeting held on Sunday with service chiefs amid rising concerns over abductions and violent attacks across the country.
The meeting was attended by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu; the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke; the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; and the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Tosin Adeola Ajayi.
A statement released after the meeting by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the move is aimed at increasing police presence in communities where stations are understaffed and response capacity is limited. Many remote areas, the statement noted, have few officers on duty, leaving residents exposed during security emergencies.
Tinubu instructed that VIPs who still require personal protection must seek armed guards from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps instead of the police. The president said the police must now focus on their core duties, including crime prevention, investigation, and rapid response.
Read also: Tinubu Confirms Rescue of Kwara Worshippers, Niger Students
The decision comes as security agencies work to address recent mass abductions in several states. The president has held multiple briefings in the past week as rescue operations continue.
Onanuga added that the federal government is taking steps to strengthen the police. Tinubu has approved the recruitment of 30,000 new officers and is working with state governments to upgrade training facilities nationwide.
The Inspector General of Police recently warned officers against unlawful detention and pledged disciplinary action for violations, part of a broader effort to improve public trust and professional standards within the force.
Leave a Reply