Just In:President Tinubu orders withdrawal of Police from VIPs to boost national security

President Bola Tinubu, on Sunday, held an extended security meeting with the nation’s Service Chiefs at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, as part of renewed efforts to address escalating insecurity across the country.

The meeting came hours after the President reaffirmed his commitment to restoring security nationwide, declaring that his administration “will not relent until every community in Nigeria is safe.”

Earlier, Tinubu had announced the rescue of 38 worshippers kidnapped in Eruku, Kwara State, and 51 students abducted from a Catholic school in Niger State. He also disclosed that he cancelled his trip to the G20 Summit in South Africa to personally coordinate security operations.

A major outcome of Sunday’s briefing was the President’s directive ordering the withdrawal of police officers attached to Very Important Persons across the country. The officers are to be redeployed to regular policing duties.

According to a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, VIPs who require security protection will now be assigned armed personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps instead of the police.

“Many parts of Nigeria, especially remote areas, have few policemen at the stations, thus making the task of protecting and defending the people difficult. In view of the current security challenges facing the country, President Tinubu is desirous of boosting police presence in all communities,” the statement read.

Onanuga added that the President has approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional police personnel, and that the Federal Government is collaborating with state governments to upgrade police training facilities nationwide.

The decision to withdraw police escorts from VIPs follows years of public concern over the overstretching of the police force, with reports indicating that more than 100,000 officers are currently assigned to politicians, businesspersons, and other influential individuals.

In attendance were the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Waidi Shaibu; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke; Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; and the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Tosin Ajayi. Photos from the session were released by the President’s Special Assistant on Social Media, Dada Olusegun.