President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the withdrawal of roughly 100,000 police officers currently assigned to politicians and other high-profile individuals, in a sweeping security reform aimed at strengthening frontline policing across Nigeria.
The decision was taken during a high-level security meeting held Sunday in Abuja with Service Chiefs, heads of intelligence agencies, and top police authorities. According to the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, personnel withdrawn from VIP protection duties will be reassigned to community policing, counter-insurgency missions, and other core security operations nationwide.
Under the new arrangement, Very Important Persons who still require escorts will receive protection from operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps rather than the Nigeria Police Force.
Police Overstretch Highlighted in Reports
Nigeria’s longstanding challenge of inadequate police presence—especially in rural and high-risk areas—was recently emphasised in a November 2025 report by the European Union Agency for Asylum. The report estimated the strength of the Nigeria Police Force at 371,800 officers serving a population of more than 236 million. It noted that the deployment of a large portion of officers to VIP protection severely limits community-level policing.
Despite previous commitments by several past Inspectors-General of Police to end the practice, the withdrawal of VIP escorts has never been fully implemented.
New Recruitment and Police Reform Measures
Onanuga also revealed that the President has approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional police personnel. Discussions are ongoing with state governments to modernise training facilities and expand the capacity of police colleges nationwide.
Senior security officials present at Sunday’s meeting included 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 Director-General of the Department of State Services, Tosin Adeola Ajayi.
School Abduction Sparks Military Inquiry
The directive comes at a time when the nation is grappling with a surge in mass abductions. Public attention has especially focused on last week’s kidnapping of dozens of schoolgirls at St. Mary Private Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State.
Controversy erupted after reports alleged that soldiers guarding the school were withdrawn shortly before the attack. The Defence Headquarters confirmed it is reviewing the troop redeployment to determine what occurred.
Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris—whose state borders the affected area—expressed deep concern during a meeting with Nigeria Labour Congress President Joe Ajaero. Idris said the state had issued intelligence alerts prior to the attack and questioned why soldiers reportedly left the school less than an hour before the gunmen arrived.
“We provided intelligence reports. We alerted them. So who gave the order for troops to withdraw at that critical hour?” the governor asked, calling for a thorough military investigation.
Local leaders echoed similar concerns. Muhammad Dantani, District Head of Maga, said he confirmed soldiers were at the school around midnight, but they allegedly departed about an hour later. Police officers at the scene told community members they sought cover when the attackers arrived due to the attackers’ large numbers and heavy weapons.
In response, Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, announced on Sunday that the military is examining the governor’s claims and will release findings upon completion of the investigation.
Source:Africa Publicity
Read Also:
Violence Erupts at Nigerian Cultural Festival, Leaving Three Dead
Authorities Probe False Claims After Fatal Tanker Explosion in Anambra,Nigeria
