President Bola Tinubu on Sunday ordered the immediate withdrawal of thousands of police officers assigned to protect politicians, business tycoons and other Very Important Persons, redirecting them to core duties amid worsening banditry, kidnappings and terrorist attacks across Nigeria.
The directive, issued during a high-level security meeting at the Presidential Villa, aims to bolster thin police presence in rural communities where stations are often manned by fewer than five officers.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga announced: “Henceforth, police authorities will deploy them to concentrate on their core police duties. VIPs who still require protection will now request well-armed personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.”
Onanuga explained the rationale: “Many parts of Nigeria, especially remote areas, have few policemen at the stations, thus making the task of protecting and defending the people difficult. In view of the current security challenges facing the country, President Tinubu is desirous of boosting police presence in all communities.”
The order follows weeks of mass abductions, including the seizure of over 300 pupils from a Niger State Catholic school and 25 girls in Kebbi, exposing chronic under-policing in vulnerable zones.
Tinubu also approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional officers and pledged federal support to upgrade training facilities nationwide in partnership with state governments.
Sunday’s meeting was attended by Chief of Army Staff Lt General Waidi Shaibu, Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun and DSS Director-General Tosin Adeola Ajayi.
