Police Announce Arrest of Officers Assigned to VIP Escort Duties
The Nigeria Police Force, NPF, has issued a firm warning that any officer found offering escort or protective services to Very Important Persons, VIPs, will face arrest, marking a decisive step in enforcing the new directive on unauthorized VIP security duties.
The announcement was made on Tuesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, who described such protection assignments as illegal duty under orders from the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
Hundeyin noted that the crackdown is already in full effect, confirming that all personnel previously deployed for VIP escort roles have been withdrawn across the country. According to him, the directive leaves no room for exceptions.
“The enforcement is on. The IGP gave the directive that any police officer found escorting VIPs be arrested because, definitely, he is on illegal duty. Every one of them has been recalled,” said Hundeyin.
The move follows President Bola Tinubu’s order on November 24 directing the complete withdrawal of police officers from VIP security duties.
The directive was issued during a high-level security meeting involving the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu; the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke; the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; and the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Tosin Ajayi.
The President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, explained in a statement that the withdrawal underscores the need to redirect police manpower toward core law enforcement duties.
Reaffirming the administration’s stance, Hundeyin dismissed claims that the enforcement might be selective or influenced by privilege, insisting Tinubu’s directive is uncompromising and not driven by the highest bidder. He added that senior police chiefs have been instructed to ensure total compliance nationwide.
“The IGP ordered the AIG SPU [Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Special Protection Unit] to go to the Abuja airport and station his men there and arrest any police officer found escorting VIPs.
“He gave the same order to the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State to go to the Lagos airport and arrest any police officer escorting VIPs. That’s how seriously we take this,” he said.