Tinubu Orders Withdrawal of Police from VIP Escorts

President Bola Tinubu has ordered the withdrawal of police personnel assigned to Very Important Persons (VIPs) across the country, directing that officers be redeployed to strengthen frontline policing and improve community security.

The directive was issued during a security meeting in Abuja with senior military and intelligence chiefs, including 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.

In a statement on Sunday, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the move was a decisive shift toward refocusing police manpower on core law enforcement responsibilities.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the withdrawal of police officers currently providing security for Very Important Persons in the country. Henceforth, police authorities will deploy them to concentrate on their core police duties,” Onanuga said.

The meeting was convened amid a surge in abductions and violent attacks, particularly in rural areas where police presence remains thin. 

However, the President said VIPs who still require official protection will now be expected to engage armed personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

Onanuga added that limited manpower in remote communities has hindered the police’s ability to protect residents effectively.

He noted that the President is pushing for a significant improvement in local policing capacity.

“In view of the current security challenges facing the country, President Tinubu is desirous of boosting police presence in all communities. Already, President Tinubu has approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional police officers. The federal government is also collaborating with the states to upgrade police training facilities nationwide,” he said.

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