Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
In a striking enforcement of national security reforms, the Nigerian Army has detained four serving police officers for allegedly flouting a presidential directive that withdrew police personnel from VIP escort duties, officials and security sources have confirmed. The arrests, made in Abuja on December 17, 2025, underscore the Federal Government’s determination to refocus policing resources on broader internal security challenges amid rising concerns over crime and insecurity across Nigeria.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu earlier this year ordered the immediate withdrawal of police officers assigned to provide personal security and escort services for Very Important Persons (VIPs), a policy aimed at redeploying personnel to frontline duties tackling kidnapping, terrorism, and violent crime. The directive, first announced in November and reaffirmed in mid-December by the President at the Federal Executive Council meeting, instructed the Inspector-General of Police and other security leaders to ensure compliance and warned against non-adherence. President Tinubu explicitly stated that the police’s central mission should be community protection and crime prevention rather than serving as private escorts for elites, a shift he argued would strengthen overall national security. Enforcement of the order has been declared non-negotiable and essential to maximising the effectiveness of limited security personnel.
Despite these directives, the four policemen were found reportedly engaged in escort duties, according to security sources familiar with the incident. The officers were identified as Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Musa Waziri and Inspector Jeremiah Achimogu of the 45 Police Mobile Force (PMF) in Abuja; Inspector Awipi Terry of the 21 PMF; and Inspector Hassan Baba of the 50 PMF, also in Abuja. They were allegedly apprehended by army personnel at about 9:30 a.m. while performing unauthorised VIP protection assignments in apparent violation of the presidential order.
Reports indicate the officers were dressed in uniforms resembling those of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in what security insiders suggest may have been an attempt to disguise their identity and evade enforcement efforts. This detail points to the lengths some officers may be willing to go to continue VIP escort duties, despite clear government directives to the contrary.
The detained officers remain in military custody pending the commencement of disciplinary proceedings under police regulations. While the full specifics of their alleged VIP assignment are still being examined, the military’s intervention reflects a growing willingness among Nigeria’s security apparatus to enforce inter-agency compliance where civil orders intersect with broader national priorities.
The presidential withdrawal order stems from long-standing criticism that the deployment of police officers for VIP escorts has siphoned vital manpower away from everyday public safety needs. Nigeria’s policing landscape has faced persistent challenges, with critics arguing that excessive focus on VIP protection has left ordinary citizens vulnerable to crime. Independent commentators have suggested that redirecting personnel from personal escort duties could bolster efforts to confront kidnappers, bandits, and violent criminal networks bedevilling many regions of the country.
Following President Tinubu’s directive, the Nigeria Police Force issued internal directives to recall officers serving in VIP capacities back to their bases. Memos from unit commanders emphasised that all personnel attached to VIPs and ceremonial duties were to withdraw without delay, signalling a concerted effort to operationalise the presidential policy across the force.
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has publicly reaffirmed the force’s commitment to implementing the withdrawal, describing the policy as a move to strengthen community policing and improve responsiveness to security threats. The IGP’s office has stated that special enforcement teams were established to monitor compliance and to ensure that officers redirected their focus to core policing tasks.
Not all stakeholders have embraced the reform without debate. Some police commanders and political figures across the federation have expressed concerns about the potential security vacuum that might arise from removing traditional protections for certain officials and dignitaries. These voices argue that nuanced implementation and clear guidelines are necessary to balance the protection of high-profile individuals with the demands of public safety. Nonetheless, the presidency has underscored that the policy is part of a broader strategic pivot toward tackling Nigeria’s deepening security crisis.
Under the new arrangement, VIPs and public officials who still require protective detail are now encouraged to source security from alternative agencies, including the NSCDC, whose mandate permits provision of protective services, and private security firms operating within the regulatory framework. This structural shift is designed to relieve the police of duties deemed peripheral to their core mandate, thereby enabling more proactive assignments in crime-affected communities.
The controversial arrests have sparked discussion among security analysts, civil society groups, and the general public about the best path forward for policing reform in Nigeria. Supporters of the directive argue that its strict enforcement — including the detention of officers seen violating the order — sends a strong signal that the government is serious about reallocating security resources to where they are most needed. Critics, however, caution that reforms must be carefully managed to avoid unintended gaps in protection and to maintain morale within the police ranks during a period of intense operational demand.
Human rights advocates and policing reform proponents have welcomed the emphasis on community and core police functions, asserting that the redistribution of personnel to frontline duties could yield positive outcomes in crime-ridden areas if paired with strengthened oversight, training, and accountability mechanisms. Many have called for transparent reporting on reallocations and outcomes to ensure that the objectives of the withdrawal order are met without compromising the safety of any segment of the population.
As the detained officers face disciplinary reviews, the broader debate over policing priorities in Nigeria continues to gain attention. The Tinubu administration has framed these policy changes as integral to its effort to overhaul the national security architecture, enhance public trust in law enforcement, and address persistent gaps in security coverage. How these reforms unfold in practice — and how they affect crime trends and public perceptions — will likely be central themes in Nigeria’s security discourse in the months ahead.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments