Following a directive from President Bola Tinubu, the Nigeria Police Force has ordered the immediate withdrawal of all officers currently assigned to protect high-profile individuals or deployed on nationwide patrol beats, requiring them to report back to their respective bases.
This move, previously reported by Persecondnews, is intended to bolster security in remote areas where police presence is currently scarce.
“We are withdrawing all personnel attached to VIPs and beats across the federation with immediate effect,” said Neji Veronica, Commanding Officer of SPU Base 16 in Lagos in a memo shared by the presidency on X on Tuesday.
“You are all warned to report back before the end of today, Monday, 24/11/2025, and attend the Lecture Parade tomorrow. Attendance shall be taken from the nominal roll.”
The presidency explained that VIPs requiring security will now need to request armed personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) instead of the police.
According to the statement, this change aims to address the shortage of police officers in communities, particularly in rural areas, leaving citizens vulnerable to attacks.
President Tinubu emphasized the need for officers to focus on core policing duties, citing the difficulties in protecting and defending the people with inadequate staffing.
To address this, he has approved recruitment of 30,000 policemen nationwide and upgrading training facilities in collaboration with state governments.
The move is part of efforts to reposition the police force to better serve and protect the Nigerian public.
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