The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has announced the recall and redeployment of over 11,000 police officers previously attached to Very Important Persons (VIPs).
The move, he stated, is a direct implementation of President Bola Tinubu’s recent directive and is designed to strengthen frontline policing across Nigeria.
IGP Egbetokun, addressing senior police commanders in Abuja on Thursday, revealed that a total of 11,566 personnel have been withdrawn from VIP protection duties.
He emphasised that this strategic realignment is not driven by sentiment but by the urgent need to channel manpower to areas where public safety demands are highest.
“The withdrawal is not a retreat from responsibility, but a reclamation of it,” the IGP declared. He explained that the recalled officers are being immediately reassigned to core policing functions.
This massive redeployment will enable the force to expand its presence for critical duties, including rural and township security, intensified patrols, intelligence-led operations, and rapid response to emerging threats.
The decision comes against a backdrop of recent security incidents, including abductions in several states, which the IGP acknowledged had created an impression that the police were not doing enough.
“We may not be doing enough, but it is not that we are not working,” he stated, adding that the force is holding itself to a higher standard.
To underscore the force’s ongoing efforts, Egbetokun listed notable operational successes, including the arrest of over 8,200 suspects for various offences and the rescue of 232 kidnapped victims in recent weeks.
With the festive season approaching, the IGP has directed all state commands to activate enhanced security measures.
These will include expanded highway patrols, reinforced units at motor parks, and the deployment of drones and AI-driven surveillance tools to ensure the safety of travelers and communities.
Detailed guidelines for the implementation of the VIP withdrawal directive are expected to be released soon to prevent any exploitation by criminal elements.
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