BY OGORAMAKA AMOS/PERCY IDUBOR/CHIKA KWAMBA/JOEL GRANDBALL/PAUL EGEDE
Recently, Nigeria was shaken by a storm of headlines: mass kidnappings, shocked families, shuttered schools, and mounting public outrage. On November 21, gunmen struck St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri community, Niger State, abducting 303 students and 12 teachers in one of the worst school kidnappings in recent memory.
Just days earlier, a girls’ boarding school in Maga town, Kebbi State, was attacked; 25 schoolgirls were abducted, and the vice-principal was killed. A church in another part of the country was also attacked: worshippers were killed or kidnapped.
In response, on November 26, President Bola Tinubu declared a nationwide security emergency, citing the urgent need to overhaul the country’s security architecture. But perhaps the most dramatic measure came a few days earlier.
On November 23, he ordered the immediate withdrawal of police officers assigned as personal escorts to Very Important Persons (VIPs) — politicians, business magnates, and other influential individuals. That directive, abrupt and sweeping, promised a seismic reshuffling of Nigeria’s security priorities.
At a high-level security meeting in Abuja — attended by service chiefs, the head of the intelligence service, and police leadership — the policy was formalised. Presidential adviser Bayo Onanuga announced that police officers guarding VIPs would be redeployed to “core policing duties across the country,” while those seeking protection would now rely on the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
According to the country’s top police official, Kayode Egbetokun, the audit triggered by the directive revealed that exactly 11,566 police officers were assigned to VIP protection nationwide.
Analysts, civil-society groups, and ordinary Nigerians had long criticised the disproportionate deployment of police to protect a select handful of individuals — while large swathes of the nation remained under-policed, especially rural and remote communities. The policy generated a wide array of reactions.
A Civil-Society Advocate, Chinedu Okafor, who spoke to our correspondent, said, “For too long, our police have been stretched thin protecting convoys and guarding the lifestyles of a privileged few, while ordinary Nigerians, children going to school, women returning from markets, families going about their daily lives are left vulnerable to kidnappers and bandits.”
He described the withdrawal as “a symbolic and practical redirection of resources.”
“If even half of those 11,566 officers show up in marketplaces, highways, rural towns — that could deter crime. We need patrols, night watches, and credible response teams when alarms go off at 2 a.m. Not just headlines.”
Still, Okafor warns: “This must not be a re-arrangement for show. We need transparency deployment maps, community-level reporting, and citizen oversight. Otherwise, this could collapse under pressure from powerful people seeking private protection again.”
He adds that civil society stands ready to monitor and report any abuse of the policy.
Also reacting, a security analyst in Port Harcourt, Dr Festus Barde, said, “This is a necessary albeit overdue recalibration of our security architecture.” He notes that Nigeria’s security threats have heightened, with mass kidnappings, criminal banditry, and terror often targeting children and rural communities.
“The raw manpower pool needed for active deployments.” But he cautions that manpower alone won’t solve insecurity.
“Officers must be equipped with patrol vehicles, communication gear, and operating resources. Smart deployment — intelligence-led patrols, community policing, fast response, night patrols — is essential, especially in remote zones.
The old culture of policing for privilege must shift to policing for the people; that requires training, welfare, oversight, and restructuring. Only then will we see if this policy transcends symbolism,” he concluded.
In the same vein, a Political Analyst in Port Harcourt, Patrick Nwoke, who also spoke to our correspondent, admits that some politicians view police escorts not only as security but as status symbols. ‘’The sudden removal feels like a downgrade, a public forfeiture of the privilege associated with power. The kidnappings — the school raids, the church attacks have awakened the public. People expect the government to protect lives, not flaunt security detail.”
His concern now is implementation: “If the withdrawal becomes selective — licences given to some, but not others, there’s risk of reproducing inequality under another name. This must be uniformly enforced.”
Likewise, Human Rights Advocate, Barr Marian Jaja, emphasised that, constitutionally, the state’s duty is to protect every citizen, regardless of their social or economic status.
“The withdrawal is a moral imperative, but it must be matched by structural reforms; deployment transparency (who goes where, how many officers in each area), regular public reporting and community-level accountability
investment in police welfare and training, especially for those deployed to rural, dangerous terrains, regulation and oversight of NSCDC (since VIPs may now request protection from them), to prevent abuse”
She warns: “If VIPs simply hire private guards, or if NSCDC becomes another unregulated security outfit, then this move may only shift problems, not solve them.”
Another respondent, Mr Godwin Okia, a social and security expert, noted,
“This overhaul is not just about reassigning 11,566 officers. It is a symbolic and structural shift — a public acknowledgement that past policing priorities contributed to widespread insecurity.
“If implemented properly, this could signal re-prioritisation of public safety over privilege: Redeploying officers to where they are needed — in rural areas, violence-prone states, on highways, near schools and communities.
He added, “Visible police presence restores public confidence, encourages intelligence sharing, and deters crime. With fresh recruits, upgraded training and more disciplined deployments, the police can begin to shed a decades-old image of selective protection. Instead of diverting manpower to guard a few, the government serves the many, aligning with principles of equity, fairness, and constitutional duty”.
In Benin, the Edo State Capital, the Ogieroba of the Benin Kingdom, Chief Amadin Osayande, told The Pointer, ‘’Some of the VIPs have abused the privilege of having orderlies. The police give orderlies to individuals with questionable characters. Many of the benefiting individuals use it to intimidate their presumed enemies or engage in nefarious criminal activities. It’s also tremendously responsible for the huge shortage of police personnel’’
A media practitioner, Justine Imoudu, asserted, “It is a welcome development and, to me, long-awaited. Looking at it, all these VIPs are well off to organise their personal security details; they could afford a gun license, a bulletproof vest, and cars. Withdrawal of government-paid uniform personnel will enable proper deployment to needy areas that are being challenged by bandits, kidnappers, and other kinds of criminals.
‘’Looking at it more broadly, the country needs community policing and monitoring by trained uniform officers; one cannot understand why these persons who have been trained to protect and secure people and properties are now assigned to a few individuals. Removing them from these high-profile personalities will create jobs for the youth of our society. I mean, many, with the wherewithal, can create private security organisations, and employ our youths, from whom these VIPs can go and hire their security details’’ he said.
In Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area, residents aired their opinions. According to Mr Augustine Ekamagule, the publisher of Ika Mirror Newspaper, ‘’the President’s decision to stop the police from guarding VIPs was a hasty one. The VIPs were not the cause of insecurity in Nigeria. The best option would have been the recruitment of more police personnel. However, since the decision has been taken, extra action should be taken to provide security for VIPs, especially at this period of high rate of insecurity in the country.’’
He argued that the withdrawal may not work because the decision was a very hasty one. ‘’Again, the resolve to replace police with civil defence officers as VIPs’ guards will not work as there is no better security outfit to handle such jobs.’’
Meanwhile, another respondent, Mr Ernest Nwaminegbe, commended the President for taking such a decision. ‘’This will allow the police to manage their duties. If the VIP needs security, let them patronise private security companies. That will create more jobs for the citizens.’’
In the same vein, a journalist and a political analyst, Mr Akinola Aladejowo, said ‘’In principle, it is a commendable move. It paints a picture of a nation finally attempting to reorder its priorities, pulling security personnel away from the comfortable shadows of the elite and returning them to the streets where their presence is desperately needed.’’
Continuing, he said, Let us be honest with ourselves: Nigeria’s insecurity problem is a wounded giant, not a scratch. Removing police from VIPs is like placing a small bandage on a deep, festering cut. It may appear neat on the surface, but the wound inside remains untreated.’’
‘’I strongly believe that the issue is not the number of officers we deploy, but the conditions under which we expect them to work. Our security personnel move daily like exhausted guardians—underpaid, underequipped, and underserved. Even if 150 million officers were recruited today, insecurity would not vanish. Without proper welfare, motivation, modern tools, and protection from political interference, they will only become more tired bodies in uniform.
“What Nigeria needs is sincerity of action, not cosmetic reforms. The President must go beyond symbolic gestures and take bold, structural measures that reflect the urgency of our situation. It begins with declaring a state of emergency in the worst-hit regions, acknowledging that the nation is dealing with a crisis that requires extraordinary interventions,” he said.
“Next, the welfare of every soldier, police officer, DSS operative, and paramilitary worker must be uplifted. A hungry officer cannot chase a well-fed criminal. A poorly paid operative will always be tempted by corruption. When security personnel are given competitive salaries, insurance, modern equipment, and dignity, they will treat the fight against insecurity like a patriotic duty, not a survival tactic,” he maintained.
As well, a youth leader in Agbor Nta Community, Mr Anthony Ehiedu, said ‘’Removing police officers as orderlies is a step in the right direction. By mandate, the police are meant to maintain law and order, prevent and detect crime, and protect the life and property of the general public. While they may sometimes serve as orderlies, the persistent shortage of manpower likely influenced the President’s decision. In times of security emergencies, they could be redeployed to tackle higher security matters, while assigning Civil Defence officers to handle VIP security duties and other civil matters.
On the other hand, he said This policy shift will naturally increase the demand for private security operatives and the services of licensed private security companies. In modern development practice, VIPs commonly engage private security outfits to safeguard themselves and their assets. So it’s a business opportunity for those who are interested in the security service sector.’’
Furthermore, another respondent, Nicholas Ebegboni, said, ‘’We live by example. You can imagine 11,000 personnel of the police attached to so-called VIPs. Who are those VIPs? He queried. If they are truly important, they are supposed to have their own private security apparatus instead of burrowing into the police force, which doesn’t even have enough personnel.
‘’I believe the police bosses are involved in this, as I believe they make money from posting personnel to these rich people. If the politicians and police are doing their job well in the first place, there won’t be any need for them to seek police guidance.
Reacting to the development, Mr Ebube Yeolawa said If they could feel what we feel, they will learn to do better, make good laws and live better. It is not enough to contest elections, win and swim in opulence while your constituents wallow in the misery of hunger and insecurity. On the other hand, it will provide job opportunities for private security agencies while availing our security the opportunity to tackle insecurity squarely.’’
He feared that the implementation may be another challenge. ‘’The rhetoric of our democracy and policy implementation can most of the time be nauseating, especially the good news that will benefit the masses’’
According to the Chairman of the Delta State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Churchill Oyowe ‘’police personnel currently assigned to private individuals can be redeployed to patrols, investigations, and community policing, thus improving overall safety. In other words, more officers will be available for public security.
‘’There will be reduced strain on the police workforce. The current number of personnel is about 350,000. This shows the Nigeria Police Force is already understaffed compared to a 230 million population, where one police officer, by standard, should not Police more than 600 citizens. Releasing officers from VIP protection, therefore, will free up manpower for core policing duties.
‘’It will bring about improved professionalism and effectiveness. Officers can refocus on crime prevention and law enforcement instead of domestic errands, driving, and personal tasks for VIPs. It will even curb abuse of police personnel. This directive will help stop the misuse of armed officers for private convenience, social events, and non-security assignments. I also see less public spending on fueling, maintaining official security vehicles, and supporting unnecessary escort teams.
‘’The directive will promote equality and accountability. It sends a message that security is for the people, not a privilege for a few, and helps reduce the culture of excessive escorts. Above all, the directive is expected to boost public confidence. Citizens seeing more police on the streets, not behind VIP convoys, will help rebuild trust in security institutions.
‘’Nevertheless, some possible setbacks or challenges that could arise from withdrawing police orderlies from VIPs range from increased security risks for high-profile individuals to the rise in private militia or unregulated security outfits and possible resistance from VIPs who are used to such protection. The withdrawal may affect officers’ income and morale, leading to dissatisfaction within the force. Besides, there’s the risk of increased convoy indiscipline by private escorts’’ Oyowe said.
Responding, a financial expert, Dr John Okpoli, noted that the directives of the President said, ‘’With many parts of Nigeria, especially rural and remote communities, suffering from insufficient police presence, redirecting officers away from VIP protection to frontline policing could boost security for many ordinary citizens.
‘’Addressing a long-standing structural distortion. The VIP-escort system has often served as a drain on state security resources and a privilege for elites. By ending it, the government signals that police are first and foremost agents of public safety, not status symbols.
‘’Additionally, to build public trust and deter misuse. If implemented transparently, this could reduce abuses, patronage and corruption associated with “personal police guards, and promote professionalism’’ he said.
However, there are serious caveats and obstacles; it may end up being “cosmetic.” This isn’t the first time such directives have been issued in Nigeria. Previous attempts have faltered, largely because enforcement was weak or VIPs continued to find ways to secure escorts through influence or loopholes.
‘’Vested interests and political pressure may undermine it. Elite individuals who are used to having escorts may resist. Also, there are concerns that the directive only addresses the police, but other security assets (e.g. soldiers, private guards) assigned to VIPs might escape regulation.
In Ughelli, Mr Tega Akporhiunuvwiyo said, “The order is good, but the implementation is the issue because the same people who gave the order will violate it. If we can recall, the same IG of Police, some years back, gave this same order, and they violated it, so for me, they should stop deceiving us with lip service.
“Just days after the withdrawal, he came back to tell Nigerians to reapply if any high-profile person wants security protection, and the question now is why the initial withdrawal.
A banker, who prefers anonymity, condemned the order as he disclosed that total withdrawal will create vulnerability. He said, ‘In society, we have the group that are tagged High Net Individuals, and the sets of individuals need security protection in one way or another.
“For instance, if police orderlies are withdrawn from VIPs like judges, it will expose those personalities to attack. Judges are very important personalities in society, and once they are noticed, they will be prone to attack by those whom the Judges may have delivered judgment against. I think that if the police want to withdraw orderlies, VIPs with over five security agents should be reduced.
A security agent, speaking on anonymous condition, disclosed that the order will not be implemented because of the corruption that has eaten deep into the police force. “How will the order be obeyed when the police are not well cared for despite the huge budget year in year out?
“I am the one sewing my uniform with my meagre salary, and if I am detailed to follow a VIP, I will not hesitate to go because, internally, we are not cared for. You need to visit some of the Barracks where some of our colleagues stay to see things for yourself.”
“If our Oga want the order to be obeyed, they should do the needful and make the police happy, because some police are only able to get new uniforms when they go out with VIP.”
