…despite President Tinubu’s order
The Nigeria Police Force has clarified why some politicians and VIPs are still seen with police escorts despite President Bola Tinubu’s directive ordering the withdrawal of officers attached to non-entitled individuals.
Speaking on Politics Today on Channels Television, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, said the withdrawal process is fully underway, stressing that 11,566 police personnel previously assigned to VIPs have already been recalled.
However, he noted that a category of VIPs are legally entitled to police protection, which is why some escorts remain visible. Hundeyin explained that the Police cannot withdraw officers from certain public officials because their protection is backed by law.
“There are government functionaries who are statutorily entitled to police protection, governors, judges, and some top government officials. “Pending further directives from the Presidency, those legally entitled will retain their security. But every other VIP not covered by law has had their officers withdrawn,” he said.
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This clarification comes amid growing public concern that politicians and wealthy individuals continue to move with armed police escorts despite the President’s directive.
The FPRO said the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) has ordered strict enforcement of the withdrawal directive, including the arrest of any officer still escorting non-entitled VIPs. “The IGP ordered the AIG, Special Protection Unit, to station men at the Abuja airport to arrest any police officer escorting VIPs.
The same directive was given to the Commissioner of Police in Lagos,” Hundeyin stated. He assured Nigerians that anyone seen with police escorts, apart from those permitted by law, is violating the directive. Hundeyin explained that the recalled officers will undergo retraining and be redeployed to areas where they are urgently needed.
He said the 11,566 officers will be sent to police divisions nationwide to boost manpower, the School Protection Squad (SPS) to enhance school safety, and military theatres to support counter-terrorism operations.
“They are experts in VIP protection, but now we need them to strengthen schools, divisions, and military operations,” he said. Hundeyin disclosed that the IGP had already initiated a withdrawal and revalidation process two weeks before the presidential directive.
This required VIPs to reapply for escorts, a process overtaken by the President’s blanket recall order. Despite the massive withdrawal, Hundeyin insisted that most VIP escorts currently seen in public belong to those whose offices legally require such protection.
He supported calls for citizens to take pictures of illegally attached escorts but maintained that such cases would now be rare. Hundeyin also admitted that the Police Force remains understaffed, with fewer than 400,000 officers serving over 200 million Nigerians.
He commended the government for approving the recruitment of 50,000 officers as part of efforts to meet global policing standards.
