The Nigerian Police Force has issued a nationwide directive requiring the instant arrest of any officer found providing personal security to VIPs, following directives from the government.
A classified police wireless message received by SaharaReporters, dated November 30, 2025, and issued by the Inspector General of Police, urged all state police commands and specialised units to strictly follow the mandate.
The message emphasised that any officer caught escorting a VIP outside of official duty areas would be arrested right away. It was addressed to senior officers, including the Department of Operations, Assistant Inspectors General of Police, Zones, Mobile Police Force, VIP Protection Unit, Counter-Terrorism Force, Federal Operations Unit, and all state and local commands.
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“Following the presidential directive to withdraw, all states to arrest any police officer found escorting any VIP in AOR yours. Disciplinary actions will also be activated against any erring supervising officer,” the memo stated.
It further cautioned that supervising officers failing to guarantee compliance would risk disciplinary action.
Additionally, the directive mandated thorough surveillance and compliance across all commands, limiting enforcement to Compol x-squads and the IGPMU.
The memo was tagged “very important” and suggested that no additional reminders would be provided.
The order was issued in response to worries that people outside of established government protection processes were abusing security personnel and resources.
Recall that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordered on Sunday, November 23, 2025, that police officers tasked with protecting VIPs nationwide be relieved of these obligations and redeployed to concentrate on their primary policing duties.
The presidential directive was issued during a security meeting in Abuja, which brought together top officials, including the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Waidi Shaibu; the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke; the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; and the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Tosin Adeola Ajayi.
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Under the new arrangement, VIPs seeking protection are required to request well-armed personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The move comes amid worsening insecurity and as part of President Tinubu’s efforts to strengthen policing across the country, especially in remote areas where limited manpower has made it challenging for officers to protect and defend communities effectively.
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