At least 100,000 police officers attached to VIPs and politicians have been withdrawn and redeployed to core policing duties. The officers will help with counter-insurgency operations, as part of a strategy to end terrorist attacks across Nigeria.
President Bola Tinubu ordered the withdrawal of police officers at a security meeting held in Abuja, attended by Service Chiefs and the Director-General of the Department of State Services.
In a press statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the FG disclosed that VIPs who require protection will now be assigned armed operatives from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, rather than the police.
According to him, the police authorities will be deployed to focus on their core police duties henceforth.
Bayo stated that President Tinubu had to take the step to enhance police presence in different communities.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the withdrawal of police officers currently providing security for Very Important Persons in the country.
Henceforth, police authorities will deploy them to concentrate on their core police duties.
In view of the current security challenges facing the country, President Tinubu is desirous of boosting police presence in all communities,” it read.
Onanuga further noted that the President has approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional police personnel to keep Nigeria secure.
He concluded by saying that the Federal Government will keep working with states to upgrade police training facilities nationwide.
