Police Escort Withdrawal Sparks Fear Among Nigeria’s VIPs.

Security.

Anxiety has taken hold among Nigeria’s VIPs following President Bola Tinubu’s directive to withdraw police escorts assigned to them.

According to a statement from the presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, police officers will now focus on their primary duties, and VIPs requiring protection must seek well-armed personnel from the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

Police sources revealed that many VIPs have flooded police headquarters with calls, seeking clarification and expressing concerns about the capability of NSCDC officers to provide adequate security. 

One source likened the proposed protection to “engaging Boy Scouts” because, unlike mobile policemen who are more agile and better equipped to handle threats, the NSCDC personnel lack similar training and resources.

Another VIP told reporters that while police escorts have long been a staple of security for high-profile individuals in Nigeria, the abrupt withdrawal amid rising insecurity raises serious questions about public safety and police effectiveness. 

The source argued for a more measured approach rather than a total pullout, cautioning that the sudden change might heighten existing fears of insecurity. They noted that the widespread use of police escorts, justified by the status and perceived risks faced by VIPs, diverts crucial security resources and creates a perception of inequality favouring the elite.

A serving police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, highlighted that deploying officers for VIP protection weakens police presence in communities, hampering their response to crimes like insurgency, armed robbery, and kidnappings. 

The officer pointed out that many patrol teams are understaffed and delayed in responding to distress calls because too many personnel are assigned to escort duties. This has left vulnerable areas exposed while officers focus on convoys.

An insider at the Police Force headquarters in Abuja confirmed that units are sometimes tied up all day protecting governors or businessmen, leaving their usual patrol zones understaffed. This presents significant logistical challenges and undermines effective policing across the country.

Human rights activist Tony Udemmadu criticised VIP police escorts, saying they erode public trust in law enforcement and reinforce inequality. 

He noted that while elites enjoy police protection, ordinary citizens face growing insecurity without adequate police support. In crime-ridden regions like the Niger Delta and the Northeast, the absence of police on regular patrol due to escort duties worsens the situation for residents.

Efforts to get comments from the Police Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, regarding the number of officers involved, withdrawal plans, and timelines were unsuccessful as of press time.

Meanwhile, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) condemned the directive to withdraw police from VIP protection as mere political theatre, accusing the government of prioritising optics over real solutions to Nigeria’s worsening security challenges. 

In a statement, ADC spokesperson Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi criticised the government for repeating a tactic that has been used multiple times without yielding results.

Abdullahi said that Nigeria’s complex security problems cannot be solved by simply reassigning police officers from VIP duties. He argued that even if the withdrawal is fully implemented, the police are still ill-equipped and poorly trained to handle the scale and sophistication of threats like terrorism and banditry. He also questioned claims that the move would free up 100,000 officers for frontline duties, insisting that the real issue is the capability and readiness of security forces, not just numbers.

Noting the military’s own struggles against evolving insurgent tactics, Abdullahi warned that police forces lack the necessary training, equipment, and motivation for effective counter-insurgency operations. He concluded that a deeper strategic overhaul, rather than superficial gestures, is needed to tackle Nigeria’s security crisis.