Over 11,000 Police Officers Withdrawn From VIPs, Redeployed to Frontline Policing – IG

Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on Thursday said the recent presidential directive ordering the withdrawal of police personnel from Very Important Persons was a strategic move to boost frontline policing and strengthen security across communities.

Speaking in Abuja during a meeting with senior police commanders, Egbetokun said the decision was not emotional or punitive but an urgent realignment to address rising security threats in several parts of the country.

According to him, a total of 11,566 police officers attached to VIPs have now been recalled and redeployed to core policing duties.

“In line with the President’s directive, we have withdrawn a total of 11,566 personnel from VIP protection. These officers are being redeployed to critical policing duties immediately,” the IG said.

He noted that the redeployment would enhance manpower for rural and township security, population protection, proactive patrols, intelligence-led operations, and swift response to emerging threats.

Egbetokun also warned that the implementation of the directive would be tightly supervised to prevent impersonation, misinformation, or exploitation by criminals. He added that detailed guidelines would soon be issued to the public.

“The withdrawal is not a retreat from responsibility, but a reclamation of it,” he said.

The police chief referenced recent abductions in Kwara, Kebbi and Niger states, describing them as proof of the need to reposition the force and increase visibility nationwide.

“We may not be doing enough, but it is not that we are not working. We are actually doing something. But as leaders, we must hold ourselves to a higher standard,” he said.

8,202 suspects arrested, 232 kidnapped victims rescued

Egbetokun disclosed that the Nigeria Police Force has recorded significant operational breakthroughs in recent weeks, including the arrest of 8,202 suspects linked to various crimes and the rescue of 232 kidnapped victims.

He broke down the arrests as follows:51 armed robbery suspects, 356 kidnapping suspects, 534 murder suspect, 129 culpable homicide suspects, 173 for unlawful possession of firearms, 312 suspected rapists,  282 suspected cultists,  Over 6,000 arrested for other serious offences

The police also recovered 249 firearms, nearly 21,000 rounds of ammunition*, and **238 vehicles**.

According to the IG, the force is deepening intelligence-driven strategies, strengthening community policing, and improving inter-agency cooperation to outsmart criminal networks.

Festive season: IG orders enhanced patrols, drone deployment

With the festive season approaching, Egbetokun directed all state commands to activate intensified patrols, highway visibility operations, and community-focused policing strategies.

He also ordered the deployment of drones and AI-driven surveillance tools.

“As we approach the festive season, criminals will seek to exploit the roads. Therefore, the roads must be decisively dominated by visibility policing and preparedness,” he said.

He tasked commissioners of police to expand highway patrol teams, reinforce foot patrols, strengthen anti-robbery operations on major routes, and collaborate with other security agencies to secure national highways and rural corridors.

Recall that President Bola Tinubu, after a security meeting with service chiefs on Sunday, ordered police officers attached to VIPs to return to core policing functions.

No official date has been announced for full implementation of the new deployment guidelines.