The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has issued a strong warning that any officer found providing escort or security services to Very Important Persons (VIPs) will be arrested, describing such assignments as “illegal duty” under the latest directive of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun.
Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, delivered the warning on Tuesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, stressing that enforcement has already begun nationwide.
“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,” Hundeyin said.
He explained that the IGP has issued firm instructions to senior commanders to ensure total compliance with the withdrawal of police escorts from VIPs.
Quoting the police chief, Hundeyin said: “The IGP ordered the AIG SPU to go to the Abuja airport and station his men there to 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.”
According to Hundeyin, President Bola Tinubu’s directive on the matter is “absolute” and not influenced by “the highest bidder.” The order is part of a broader security overhaul aimed at redeploying officers to core policing responsibilities amid rising nationwide insecurity.
The policy was communicated during a security meeting with service chiefs, where President Tinubu directed that VIPs in need of official protection should henceforth secure “well-armed personnel” from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), rather than the police.
Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga said the decision is designed to redirect police manpower to essential law enforcement duties, especially in underserved and high-risk areas.
Amid escalating kidnappings and terrorist attacks, the President also declared a nationwide state of security emergency, authorising the police and military to boost recruitment.
“With this declaration, the police and the military are authorised to expand their recruitment. The police will bring in an additional 20,000 officers, raising the total to 50,000,” Tinubu said in a personally signed statement.
He added that new recruits — as well as officers withdrawn from VIP duties — will undergo accelerated training at upgraded police institutions and select NYSC camps before deployment to volatile zones.