Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun announced on Thursday that the recent presidential directive to withdraw police personnel from protecting Very Important Persons (VIPs) is part of a strategic realignment aimed at enhancing frontline policing and safeguarding vulnerable communities nationwide.
Egbetokun made these comments during a press briefing in Abuja, where he met with senior police commanders.
He emphasized that the decision to recall officers from VIP security was not based on sentiment but rather a critical response to the need for increased manpower in areas where public safety is most at risk.
This move, he stated, is in line with the core mandate of the Nigeria Police Force, which focuses on protecting citizens, communities, and maintaining public order.
Egbetokun cautioned that the implementation of the directive to withdraw police from VIP duties would be closely monitored to avoid misinformation, impersonation, or exploitation by criminal elements. Detailed guidelines for this transition will be issued shortly.
“The withdrawal is not a retreat from responsibility, but a reclamation of it,” he asserted.
He noted that recent security incidents, including abductions in Kwara, Kebbi, and Niger states, have underscored the necessity of repositioning the force to bolster visibility and deterrence throughout the country.
While acknowledging that security agencies have responded swiftly to these incidents, Egbetokun recognized that they have led some to perceive that the police were not doing enough. “We may not be doing enough, but it is not that we are not working. We are indeed taking action. However, as leaders, we must hold ourselves to a higher standard,” he remarked.
The IGP highlighted that the police force has recorded significant operational successes in recent weeks, including the apprehension of 8,202 suspects for various offenses and the rescue of 232 kidnapping victims.
He elaborated, “The Nigerian Police Force has achieved multiple operational outcomes across strategic formations and tactical response structures, resulting in the arrest of 451 armed robbery suspects, 356 kidnapping suspects, 534 murder suspects, 129 culpable homicide suspects, 173 individuals for unlawful possession of firearms, 312 suspected rapists, and 282 suspected cultists. Additionally, 6,094 other suspects were arrested for serious offenses.”
Egbetokun also reported the recovery of 249 firearms, nearly 21,000 rounds of ammunition, and 238 vehicles.
The police are now adopting stronger intelligence frameworks, fostering deeper community engagement, and enhancing inter-agency collaboration to effectively counter criminal activities.
As the festive season approaches, he instructed all state commands to implement heightened patrols, increase visibility on highways, and adopt community-focused policing strategies, including the use of drones and AI-driven surveillance technologies.
“With the festive season on the horizon, we anticipate a surge in travel activity as citizens return home to celebrate with their families and communities, which may provide opportunities for criminals to exploit,” he warned.
“To ensure the safety of these routes, proactive policing and preparedness are essential. I charge each state command to activate festive deployment and operational plans. This will include expanded highway patrol teams, strengthened foot patrol units at motor parks, anti-robbery patrols on busy roads, intelligence-led vehicular patrols in rural areas, and inter-service collaboration patrols to ensure safety across all national highways. We will also focus on township entry and exit points, market transit routes, and community travel corridors.”
“Utilize artificial intelligence in policing strategies, including drones and other technological assets. Each command must monitor operational hours and presence metrics as performance indicators for the December deployment,” Egbetokun concluded.
PUNCH Online reported that President Bola Tinubu directed the withdrawal of police officers from VIP security duties on Sunday and mandated their reassignment to core policing functions following a security meeting held in Abuja with service chiefs and the Director-General of the Department of State Services.
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