BREAKING: IGP Orders Nationwide Arrest Of Police Officers Escorting VIPs despite Tinubu’s Order

The Nigeria Police Force has begun a sweeping enforcement campaign to arrest any officer found providing unauthorised escort services to VIPs, following a new directive from the Presidency aimed at tackling the misuse of police manpower.

A wireless signal circulated to all commands and specialised units on November 30, 2025, and signed by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, ordered immediate compliance. The message, classified as “very important,” directed commissioners of police, zonal AIGs, Mobile Police units, the VIP Protection Unit, Counter-Terrorism squads, and federal operational units to apprehend any officer seen escorting individuals without formal approval.

“Following the presidential directive to withdraw, all states [are] to arrest any police officer found escorting any VIP in AOR yours,” the communication read, adding that disciplinary action would also be initiated against supervising officers who fail to enforce the order.

Only the Compol X-Squad and the Inspector-General’s Monitoring Unit have been authorised to carry out enforcement, with the memo stressing that no further reminders would be issued.

The clampdown follows President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive on November 23, 2025, ordering the withdrawal of police personnel attached to VIPs across the country. The decision was taken at a high-level security meeting in Abuja attended by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke; the IGP; and DSS Director-General, Tosin Adeola Ajayi.

Under the new security framework, VIPs seeking escorts must now apply for armed protection from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), rather than the police.

Presidency officials say the measure is part of a wider effort to address growing insecurity, particularly in rural and underserved communities where police presence has thinned as officers take up private protection duties.