Drama As Policemen On VIP Escort Arrested By Nigerian Army For Defying Tinubu’s Withdrawal Order
Four police officers have been arrested by the Nigerian Army for allegedly providing unauthorised VIP escort services in defiance of President Bola Tinubu’s directive withdrawing police personnel from non-essential protection duties.
Security sources disclosed that the arrest occurred on December 17 at about 9:30 a.m. while the officers were reportedly on escort duty for a VIP. Those arrested were identified as Assistant Superintendent of Police Musa Waziri and Inspector Jeremiah Achimogu, both attached to the 45 Police Mobile Force (PMF), Abuja; Inspector Awipi Terry of 21 PMF; and Inspector Hassan Baba of 50 PMF, Abuja.
According to the sources, military personnel apprehended the officers after determining that they had violated the presidential order mandating the withdrawal of police officers from private and VIP escort assignments.
The officers were allegedly wearing uniforms resembling those of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in an attempt to evade detection and mislead enforcement personnel. They have since been detained, while disciplinary procedures are said to be underway in line with existing regulations.
President Tinubu had earlier directed the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to withdraw all police personnel attached to private individuals and non-essential VIP protection duties. Officers affected by the directive were instructed to return to their units and surrender their service rifles for redeployment to core policing operations.
However, credible police sources claim that the directive has been widely undermined. According to the sources, some officers allegedly paid as much as ₦500,000 to have their surrendered rifles reissued, after which they resumed escort duties through informal arrangements.
It was further alleged that several officers have adopted disguises to continue working for VIPs, including wearing vigilante or NSCDC-style uniforms, operating as private drivers, or dressing in corporate suits while still providing armed protection.
“Police officers are disguising themselves in vigilante and NSCDC uniforms to evade the withdrawal order,” a source said. “They were told to return their rifles, but after payment, the same weapons were reissued and duties resumed.”
Although the Inspector-General of Police reportedly constituted a monitoring team to enforce compliance, sources described the effort as largely symbolic, claiming that some officers arrested during enforcement exercises were quickly released.
Security sources concluded that the withdrawal policy has so far failed to significantly reduce the deployment of police officers to private individuals, as the majority of affected personnel have allegedly returned to their duties despite the directive.
