The Nigeria Police Force has begun a sweeping withdrawal of officers from VIP protection units after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to move thousands of policemen back to frontline security duties. The decision comes at a moment of deep national anxiety, with kidnappings and bandit attacks rising sharply across several states. The implementation started early Tuesday, drawing widespread public attention as officers confirmed receiving a recall alert from the base office. This marks one of the most dramatic security reforms Nigeria has attempted in years, aimed at restoring police presence in communities where help is urgently needed.
Implementation kicked into high gear as early as Monday, with directives cascading down to operational units nationwide. In Lagos, ASP Neji Veronica, administrative officer for the Commanding Officer of the Special Protection Unit (SPU) Base 16, issued a firm order for all personnel attached to VIPs and “beats” across the federation to report back to their bases by the close of business on November 24. Officers are slated for a mandatory “Lecture Parade” on Tuesday, November 25, where attendance will be verified against nominal rolls, ensuring immediate compliance.
Key developments have underscored the urgency of the move. Nigeria is still reeling from a series of mass abductions, including the kidnapping of more than 200 schoolchildren in Niger State and the seizure of 38 worshippers in Kwara State. The President’s order was issued during a high-level security council meeting in Abuja and attended by senior military and intelligence chiefs who raised concerns that too many officers were tied down guarding wealthy individuals instead of serving the population. Current estimates show that nearly a quarter of the entire police force has been occupied with VIP duties, a long-standing imbalance that has weakened responses to attacks in rural and urban communities.
The administration insists the shift is part of a broader restructuring of national security. Under the new rule, only officials whose positions legally require police protection will retain it while private citizens and other VIPs must seek security support from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. The government has also approved the recruitment of 30,000 new police officers and pledged fresh investments in training, aiming to build a larger and more capable force.
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Recent attacks have intensified the demand for reform. In Niger State, gunmen invaded St. Mary Private Primary and Secondary Schools and abducted hundreds of pupils and staff. Witnesses say troops had withdrawn shortly before the assault despite warnings from the community. Military authorities have opened a formal investigation, promising action against any personnel found responsible for lapses. In Kwara State, all 38 abducted church members were freed following a coordinated rescue mission involving several agencies, prompting praise from state officials and religious leaders.
Early signs of the withdrawal are already visible across the country. Social media posts have shown policemen leaving gated estates in Lagos and moving into new patrol assignments in Abuja’s outskirts. Some Nigerians have welcomed the change as a long overdue correction, while others fear the transition may strain the NSCDC’s capacity and leave certain high-profile individuals vulnerable. Security analysts caution that previous administrations attempted similar reforms without lasting success due to political pushback.
The coming weeks will reveal whether this sweeping redeployment can strengthen community policing or whether gaps will emerge during the transition. For now, the government has framed the shift as a turning point, insisting that Nigeria can no longer afford a system in which thousands of officers serve private interests while rural communities face unchecked violence. As rescue operations continue and investigations deepen, the country watches closely to see if this bold move delivers real change.
