The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has confirmed the withdrawal of 11,566 police personnel from the protection of Very Important Persons (VIPs) across Nigeria, describing it as a strategic measure to strengthen frontline policing and safeguard vulnerable communities.
Speaking on Thursday during a meeting with senior police commanders in Abuja, Egbetokun said the directive, issued by President Bola Tinubu, is aimed at redirecting manpower to critical areas requiring urgent public safety attention. He emphasized that the move is neither political nor sentimental but rooted in the Nigeria Police Force’s core mandate to protect citizens and maintain public order.
“In line with the President’s directive, these officers have been redeployed to critical policing duties nationwide,” Egbetokun said, adding that the reallocation will improve township and rural security, intelligence-driven operations, proactive patrols, and rapid response to emerging threats.
Egbetokun also highlighted recent operational achievements, including the arrest of 8,202 suspects for various crimes and the rescue of 232 kidnapped victims. Among the arrests were suspects for armed robbery, kidnapping, murder, unlawful possession of firearms, rape, and cultism. Security operations also led to the recovery of 249 firearms, nearly 21,000 rounds of ammunition, and 238 vehicles.
The IGP warned that the implementation of the withdrawal would be carefully managed to prevent misinformation or misuse by criminal elements. He also directed all state commands to activate enhanced security operations ahead of the festive season, including expanded highway patrols, reinforced foot patrols, intelligence-led rural patrols, and the use of drones and AI-powered surveillance tools.
“With increased travel expected during the festive period, proactive policing and strategic deployment are essential to ensure the safety of citizens nationwide,” Egbetokun said.
