Nigeria Police Withdraw 11,566 VIP Escorts for Frontline Security Operations

By Oluwakemi Kindness

The Nigeria Police Force has began the withdrawal of 11,566 officers assigned to VIP protection duties, in a major overhaul aimed at strengthening national security and improving public safety.

Announcing the policy shift during a meeting with senior commanders in Abuja, the Inspector General of Police said the decision aligns with a strategic realignment of security priorities, ensuring more officers are deployed to areas where their presence will have greater national impact.

He noted that Nigeria’s evolving security environment requires a stronger police footprint across population centres, rural communities, and high-risk zones affected by banditry, kidnapping, terrorism, and other violent crimes.

The IGP described the move as “a reclamation of policing responsibility,” saying the redeployed officers will boost visibility patrols, community safety operations, investigative response, highway security, and tactical interventions.

The Police Chief stressed that the implementation will be carefully handled to prevent impersonation, misinterpretation, or exploitation by criminal elements. Internal operational guidelines will be issued before official communication to the public.

He assured citizens that the withdrawal of VIP escorts is intended to restore confidence in policing, improve response capacity, and ensure more officers serve where they are most needed.