…As Tinubu’s directive triggers nationwide redeployment
…Analysts debate impact on VIP security
By Obasola Olatunde
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has announced the withdrawal of 11,566 police personnel from VIP protection duties as part of a strategic redeployment aimed at reinforcing security across communities nationwide.
The move follows a presidential directive intended to prioritize frontline policing, particularly in areas vulnerable to banditry, abductions, and other violent crimes.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Thursday, the IGP explained that the redeployment seeks to strengthen community safety, intelligence-led operations, and rapid response to emerging threats. “The withdrawal is not a retreat from responsibility, but a reclamation of it,” Egbetokun stressed, noting that the reassignment aligns with the core mandate of the Nigeria Police Force to protect citizens and maintain public order.
“In line with the President’s directive, we have withdrawn 11,566 personnel from VIP protection. These officers are being redeployed to critical policing duties immediately,” he added.
Egbetokun highlighted recent achievements of the police, noting that the force had arrested 8,202 suspects for various offences and rescued 232 kidnapped victims in recent weeks. Among the arrests were suspects for armed robbery, kidnapping, murder, unlawful possession of firearms, rape, and cult-related crimes. Additionally, police recovered 249 firearms, nearly 21,000 rounds of ammunition, and 238 vehicles.
As the festive season approaches, the IGP directed all state commands to activate enhanced patrols, highway visibility operations, and community focused policing strategies, including the use of drones and AI driven surveillance tools. He emphasized that criminals will seek to exploit the roads during the holiday season, making it imperative that highways and communities are decisively dominated by proactive policing.
Security analysts have generally welcomed the redeployment, calling it a long-overdue adjustment in the allocation of police resources. Dr. Chinedu Okonkwo, a security consultant based in Abuja, described the move as “a significant step in reorienting the police toward citizen protection rather than symbolic VIP assignments. It is crucial for rural and semi urban communities that often bear the brunt of banditry.” Mrs. Aisha Bello, a former police officer and criminologist, emphasized the importance of strategic intelligence and community engagement in complementing manpower deployment.
She said, “It is not just about numbers. Officers must be well trained, well equipped, and integrated into community policing networks to achieve tangible results.”
However, some analysts urged caution, noting that the withdrawal from VIPs could create new security vulnerabilities for high profile individuals. Mr. Joseph Adeyemi, a Lagos-based security strategist, commented, “While frontline redeployment is necessary, it is important that VIPs are not left unprotected entirely. The key will be balancing resources without creating security gaps.”
President Bola Tinubu issued the directive last Sunday following a security meeting in Abuja with service chiefs and the Director General of the Department of State Services. Analysts argue that this initiative, coupled with intelligence led strategies and enhanced inter agency collaboration, could significantly reduce incidents of banditry and violent crime, provided it is implemented effectively. Public reaction has been mixed, with some citizens welcoming the redeployment as a long overdue focus on citizen safety, while others remain skeptical due to persistent security lapses in rural areas.
As Nigeria enters the festive season, all eyes are on the police and other security agencies to demonstrate tangible results, showing that the withdrawal of officers from VIP duties translates into real protection for ordinary citizens.