Following the withdrawal of 11,566 policemen by the authorities, prominent Nigerians have revealed plans to apply to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for orderlies and security escorts.
The move, ordered by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is part of an aggressive push to redirect overstretched security manpower to escalating nationwide threats—including kidnapping spikes in Kwara, Kebbi, Niger and other parts of the North.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, the Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun said the recall of police from VIP duties was neither punitive nor political but was designed to refocus policing on communities ravaged by crime.
‘In line with the President’s directive, we have withdrawn a total of 11,566 personnel from VIP protection. These officers are being redeployed to critical policing duties immediately’, he announced.
Egbetokun said the reallocation will strengthen rural and township security, improve intelligence-led operations, and boost rapid response capacity.
He warned that the implementation must be guarded against abuse by criminals posing as law enforcement agents.
‘The withdrawal is not a retreat from responsibility, but a reclamation of it.
The IGP also cited recent abductions in Kwara, Kebbi, and Niger states as justification for redeploying officers from VIP corridors to troubled zones.
Among recent successes, Egbetokun said the police arrested 451 suspects for armed robbery, 356 for kidnapping, 534 murder suspects, 129 for culpable homicide suspects, 173 persons for unlawful possession of firearms, 312 rape suspects and 282 suspected cultists.
Despite the sweeping directive, police insiders said that many officers had quietly resumed VIP assignments
A source who does not want to be named because he was not permitted to speak to journalists said some of his colleagues on VIP duties are back.
‘Those on VIPs’ duties are returning. I saw some of them today. In my office, two of them are back. This time around I think the directive will be effective with what I have seen on the ground’, one source said.
Another police official, speaking on condition of anonymity, added, ‘Officers are being reassigned to their previous duties gradually. I don’t know the VIPs they were withdrawn from but our colleagues are returning’.
Several political bigwigs—among them former SDP presidential candidate Prince Adewole Adebayo and suspended PDP National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu—were among VIPs whose police details were abruptly recalled.
Meanwhile, suspended PDP National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, admitted that his police orderlies had also been withdrawn.
He expressed support for the policy, but urged the government to prioritise ‘elder statesmen and national officers of political parties’.
“I support their withdrawal. Nigeria as a government is lacking in terms of manpower in the police. The police officers who are engaged with the VIPs have also mismanaged that position.”
He added a caveat: “They should prioritise it. They should know the calibre of people and take a look at their potential to be able to know who really meets the requirements of VIPs. They should do a proper recording and documentation of these police officers.”
Asked if he would turn to private guards, he replied: “How can I be using private guards? I’m entitled to police escorts. I’m a national official of a political party and also a senator. But I have applied to the NSCDC for manpower. In fact, I even prefer them because they are well trained too.”
Vice Chairman of the APC (South-East), Dr. Ijeoma Arodiogbu, warned that depriving VIPs of protection could backfire.
“No, they didn’t withdraw my security aides. That’s one. In the House of Reps and the Senate yesterday (Wednesday), they spoke against that, because if they withdraw security aides from VIPs, it could be another level of insecurity.
“Of course, VIPs are prime targets, especially with politicians. So, I don’t think that the IGP will implement all of it. Of course, it is big news if any VIP is affected by any form of insecurity. That is why it’s called VIP, Very Important Personality,” he said.
While thanking the president for taking the bold moves, the APC chieftain also backed the call for priority to be given to certain VIPs, saying escorts should not be given to everyone.
“I agree with giving priority to certain persons of importance. In everything, prioritising is important. We shouldn’t be having a situation where some traders will be seen going about with 10 police details.
“Yes, we agreed that they have money. But they shouldn’t fall under the bracket or category of the elite who cogently need these escort and security aides. That is the one that is more disturbing.
“We also thank the president so much for calling for more recruitment of personnel into the police and army. It is all a bid to buffer all those challenges.”
According to him, priority should be given to truly high-risk individuals—not traders ‘going around with 10 police officers’.
The Deputy National Youth Leader of the PDP, Tim Osadolor, said Nigerians should embrace a future where VIPs move without escorts.
Let everybody including the president learn to start moving around without them. Let Tinubu travel to Amsterdam and Denmark and see how their prime ministers move around freely without escorts’.
Meanwhile, the lawmaker representing Borno South, Senator Ali Ndume, has thrown his weight behind the withdrawal of police personnel from Very Important Persons.
Speaking on Thursday night on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television, Ndume said some ministers had police officers attached not only to themselves but also to their wives and children.
He said he had long advocated the policy, describing it as one of President Bola Tinubu’s most commendable decisions, which must be fully implemented.
“We should see it on the ground. I thought I would not see policemen at the National Assembly today but I saw so many of them there today.
“I was given three police orderlies, but that was a big crowd for me so I refused. I insisted that if there’s going to be any attachment of the police to me, then it should be one orderly because I’m not an accused person.
“I should have police to monitor me so that next time they won’t say I have gone to have a meeting with the other person. So I need that police to monitor my movement and who I relate with. The police are not to protect me. No.
“So, I am of the opinion that all these policemen be withdrawn from VIPs. You can imagine that some of my colleagues like ministers have police attached to their wives and children. What’s their business with that?” he queried.
But some lawmakers described the directive as ‘unrealistic’ and ‘potentially reckless’, insisting that VIPs remain primary targets of assassinations and politically motivated attacks.
The Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Prof Julius Ihonvbere, called for clarification on the category of persons affected by the recent presidential directive ordering the withdrawal of police orderlies from Very Important Persons.