The Nigerian Police Force has issued a nationwide directive ordering the immediate arrest of any officer found providing personal security to VIPs, following instructions from the presidency.
A confidential police wireless message obtained by SaharaReporters, dated November 30, 2025, and issued by the Inspector General of Police, instructed all state police commands and specialised units to strictly enforce the directive.
The message, addressed to senior officers including Department of Operations, Assistant Inspectors General of Police, Zones; Mobile Police Force, VIP Protection Unit, Counter-Terrorism Force and the Federal Operations Unit and all state and area commands, emphasised that any police officer caught escorting a VIP outside official duty areas would be immediately arrested.
“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 warned that supervising officers failing to ensure compliance would face disciplinary action.
The directive also restricted enforcement to Compol x-squads and the IGPMU, while ordering strict monitoring and compliance across all commands.
The memo was marked “very important” and indicated that no further reminders would be issued.
The police order follows concerns over misuse of security personnel and resources by individuals outside official government protection protocols.
On Sunday, November 23, 2025, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed that police officers assigned to provide security for VIPs across the country be withdrawn from such duties and redeployed to focus on their core policing responsibilities.
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.
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.
