Nigeria Police Launch Nationwide Crackdown on Unauthorized VIP Escorts
The Nigeria Police Force has begun enforcing a sweeping nationwide crackdown on unauthorized police escorts attached to influential individuals, following a presidential directive ordering security personnel to return to core policing duties.
The move, announced late November, mandates the immediate withdrawal of all police officers serving as personal guards or escorts to private VIPs across the country. President Bola Tinubu approved the directive as part of broader security reforms aimed at strengthening frontline policing at a time of rising crime and insecurity.
Under the new policy, VIPs who still require protection are to seek services from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), marking a shift away from longstanding reliance on police escorts for private security.
Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun confirmed that over 11,500 officers have already been pulled out from VIP assignments. He said the withdrawn personnel would be redeployed to mainstream policing roles, including patrols, rapid response units, and community policing operations.
According to police leadership, the objective is to free up manpower previously concentrated around wealthy or politically connected individuals, thereby improving police presence in underserved communities and boosting capacity to respond to security threats.
The crackdown follows years of criticism over the heavy deployment of police operatives as escorts to business tycoons, politicians, and celebrities — a practice many argue weakens public safety by diverting essential personnel from crime-fighting duties.
While security experts have welcomed the reform, implementation challenges remain. Similar withdrawals ordered in the past were inconsistently enforced, with many VIPs retaining escorts through informal arrangements or political influence. Some high-profile individuals are reportedly uneasy about relying on alternative protection, particularly in volatile regions.
Civil society groups have urged the government to pair the withdrawal policy with broader reforms in training, welfare, oversight, and accountability to ensure redeployed officers are effectively utilised in service of the public.
For now, the police maintain that the mass recall is a necessary step in rebuilding public trust and redirecting resources toward combating widespread insecurity across the country.
