The Nigerian Police Pressure has issued a nationwide directive ordering the speedy arrest of any officer discovered offering private safety to VIPs, following directions from the presidency.
A confidential police wi-fi message obtained and dated November 30, 2025, and reportedly issued by the Inspector Common of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, instructed all state police instructions and specialised models to strictly implement the directive.
The message, addressed to senior officers together with Division of Operations, Assistant Inspectors Common of Police, Zones; Cellular Police Pressure, VIP Safety Unit, Counter-Terrorism Pressure and the Federal Operations Unit and all state and space instructions, emphasised that any police officer caught escorting a VIP exterior official responsibility areas could be instantly arrested.
“Following the presidential directive to withdraw, all states to arrest any police officer discovered escorting any VIP in AOR yours. Disciplinary actions may also be activated in opposition to any erring supervising officer,” the memo acknowledged.
It additional warned that supervising officers failing to make sure compliance would face disciplinary motion. The directive additionally restricted enforcement to Compol x-squads and the IGPMU, whereas ordering strict monitoring and compliance throughout all instructions.
The memo was marked “crucial” and indicated that no additional reminders could be issued. The police order follows issues over misuse of safety personnel and sources by people exterior official authorities safety protocols.
On Sunday, November 23, 2025, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed that cops assigned to supply safety for VIPs throughout the nation be withdrawn from such duties and redeployed to deal with their core policing obligations.
The presidential directive was issued throughout a safety assembly in Abuja, which introduced collectively prime officers, together with the Chief of Military Employees, Lt. Common Waidi Shaibu; the Chief of Air Employees, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke; the Inspector Common of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; and the Director-Common of the Division of State Companies, Tosin Adeola Ajayi. Below the brand new association, VIPs searching for safety are required to request well-armed personnel from the Nigeria Safety and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The transfer comes amid worsening insecurity and as a part of President Tinubu’s efforts to strengthen policing throughout the nation, particularly in distant areas the place restricted manpower has made it difficult for officers to guard and defend communities successfully.
The Presidency has known as on Nigerians to actively assist monitor compliance with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to withdraw police escorts for VIPs.
The enchantment was made by the President’s Particular Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Daniel Bwala, throughout an interview on Sunday, the place he highlighted the administration’s dedication to implementing the order and urged residents to doc any violations.
“In case you determine a star, a non-public sector individual, or any particular person who has police in opposition to the manager order of the president, as a lot as you’ll be able to, seize proof, whether or not {a photograph} or video,” Bwala mentioned.
The Particular Adviser clarified that the withdrawal doesn’t apply to all authorities officers. “The order of the president to withdraw police from VIPs isn’t all-encompassing. There are essential folks in authorities who will nonetheless have one type of safety or one other,” he defined.
Bwala added that different safety businesses, such because the State Safety Service and Civil Defence, would supply safety the place mandatory. “It might be SSS, Civil Defence, and never the police who will probably be there that can assist you. However police don’t have any enterprise being with you,” he mentioned.