Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Nigeria Police Force has ordered a sweeping crackdown on officers deployed for unauthorised escort duties, warning that personnel caught protecting individuals without proper authorisation will be arrested, investigated, and prosecuted. Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Iniedu, disclosed this on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, stating that the directive was part of a wider effort to restore the Police Mobile Force (QPMF) to its original role as the force's frontline combat unit. Speaking on TVC News' TVC Breakfast, Iniedu said the police had already withdrawn PMF personnel from unauthorised escort assignments and would no longer tolerate officers ignoring directives from the Inspector-General of Police.
Iniedu explained that the PMF had for years been diverted from its primary role to conventional policing, VIP protection, and other duties, significantly weakening its capacity to confront kidnapping, banditry and terrorism. The crackdown is aimed at reversing that trend and ensuring that PMF units are available for high-risk operations. The police spokesperson also noted that the force had already withdrawn PMF personnel from unauthorised escort assignments and would not hesitate to arrest and prosecute any officer found violating the directive.
The latest directive comes amid growing concerns over the abuse of police personnel for private protection duties, a practice that has been repeatedly condemned by the police leadership. In December 2025, the Inspector-General of Police had issued a similar order directing the arrest of any officer found providing escort services to unauthorised VIPs. Despite repeated warnings, some officers have continued to flout the directive, prompting the force to intensify enforcement. In August 2026, three Mobile Police officers were arrested in Ondo State for engaging in an unauthorised escort operation.
The crackdown has also received support from civil society organisations. STAND UP Nigeria, a advocacy group, commended the police for enforcing the ban and warned that the diversion of police personnel to VIP protection had undermined public safety. The group noted that the practice had not only depleted the number of officers available for general policing but had also created a culture of impunity among officers who saw VIP escort as a lucrative sideline.
The police have warned that officers found guilty of providing unauthorised escort services will face not only arrest and investigation but also prosecution. Iniedu stressed that the force was committed to enforcing the directive and would not spare any officer found violating the order. He also reiterated that the directive applied to all officers, regardless of rank or status, and that the police would not tolerate any form of indiscipline.
The crackdown is part of a broader effort by the Nigeria Police Force to restore public confidence in the institution and ensure that police personnel are deployed in line with their core mandate of protecting lives and property. The force has also called on members of the public to report any officer found engaging in unauthorised escort duties, promising that such reports would be investigated and appropriate action taken.
As the enforcement of the directive begins, the police have warned that any officer caught flouting the order will be treated as a criminal and made to face the full weight of the law. The message from the Force Headquarters is clear: the days of using police personnel for private protection duties without authorisation are over, and those who continue to engage in the practice will face the consequences.
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