By: Sunday Ameh
The Nigeria Police Force has ordered the immediate withdrawal of its Mobile Police officers attached to several high-profile individuals, following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to end VIP policing and redirect officers to core security duties across the country.
A memo issued by the Mobile Police Force 50 Squadron in Kubwa, Abuja, and signed by CSP Suleiman Abdullahi, ordered all personnel deployed to VIPs to report back to base no later than 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 27, 2025.
The instruction, referenced AB: 4087/FCT/50PMF/VOL.10/, listed 20 Very Important Persons affected by the order. They include former Vice Presidents Atiku Abubakar and Namadi Sambo; Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; former First Lady Aisha Buhari; Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun; and the Olu of Warri, His Royal Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III.
Others named in the memo are: the APC Women Leader; Senator Tanko Al-Makura; Hon. Ngozi Iweala; Senator Ahmed Lawan; Hon. Khalifa Abdul; Hon. Yusuf Gagdi; Dr. Ramatu Tijjani; Hon. Vetra; Hon. Moses Ternege; the Managing Director of Barelco; Engineer Okeke; Hon. Ibrahim Massari; and an individual identified as Alhaji Kamba.
The police directive comes after President Tinubu, during a high-level security meeting in Abuja on Sunday, ordered the withdrawal of police personnel from VIP protection duties nationwide. The meeting was attended by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke; Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; and the Director-General of the DSS, Tosin Adeola Ajayi.
Under the new policy, VIPs seeking armed protection will now be required to request personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), allowing the police to focus on combating insecurity, especially in rural and underserved communities.
In a similar development, SaharaReporters earlier reported that the Lagos-based Special Protection Unit (SPU) Base 16 had also directed its officers to immediately return to base in compliance with the presidential order. A memo signed by the Commanding Officer, SP Neji Veronica, instructed all personnel attached to VIPs to report back by November 24, warning that attendance at a subsequent lecture parade would be strictly monitored.
The nationwide withdrawal marks one of the most significant restructuring efforts of police responsibilities in recent years, aimed at boosting operational manpower amid rising security challenges.
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