BREAKING: President Tinubu Withdraws Police Officers Guarding VIPs

President Tinubu has directed that police officers assigned to VIPs be withdrawn and redeployed to strengthen security across communities.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has issued a directive for the immediate withdrawal of police officers attached to Very Important Persons (VIPs) across the country, ordering that the officers be returned to frontline policing roles.

The directive was contained in a statement released on Sunday by presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, following a high-level security meeting the President held in Abuja with the service chiefs, the Inspector General of Police, and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS).

According to the Presidency, the move is part of a broader effort to boost police presence nationwide, especially in underserved and vulnerable communities.

Under the new directive, VIPs who still require armed protection will now be expected to request personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) rather than the Nigeria Police Force.

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The statement highlighted the imbalance in manpower distribution, noting that many remote areas lack adequate police presence, making protection of lives and property more difficult.

“In view of the current security challenges facing the country, President Tinubu is desirous of boosting police presence in all communities,” the Presidency said.

To further strengthen law enforcement capacity, Tinubu has also approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional police officers and is working with state governments to upgrade training facilities for the Nigeria Police Force.

The security meeting was attended by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke; Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; and the Director-General of the DSS, Tosin Adeola Ajayi.

The directive marks one of the most significant overhauls of VIP security privileges in recent years and signals the administration’s increasing focus on community safety and operational policing.