Police Commence Immediate Withdrawal of Officers from VIP Duties, 100,000 Expected to be Redeployed to Frontline Policing

The Nigerian Police Force has begun the immediate and decisive implementation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s order to withdraw police personnel from Very Important Persons (VIPs) across the country, a move aimed at instantly boosting the nation’s security capacity against terrorism and banditry.

The order was acted upon swiftly, with the Special Protection Unit (SPU) issuing a mandatory directive for all attached personnel to report back to their respective bases. A memo, issued by the Commanding Officer of SPU Base 16 in Lagos and confirmed by the Presidency, explicitly ordered all affected officers to return by the close of business on Monday, November 24, 2025.

“Sequel to the directive of Mr President… the Commanding Officer directs, with immediate effect, the withdrawal of all personnel of SPU Base 16 attached to VIPs/Beats across the federation back to base,” the memo stated.

Freeing Up 100,000 Officers

The directive is one of the most significant steps taken by the Tinubu administration to address the long-standing issue of police manpower being diverted for private use. It is estimated that up to 100,000 police officers are currently serving as orderlies and security guards for politicians and affluent individuals, leaving core policing duties severely understaffed.

The withdrawal frees up these personnel for core policing duties, community patrols, and counter-insurgency operations in vulnerable areas—a strategy designed to directly respond to the escalating mass abduction crisis in Northern Nigeria.

VIPs who genuinely require armed security protection must now approach the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for well-armed personnel, marking a major functional shift in how armed protection is sourced in the country. The move comes alongside the President’s approval for the recruitment of 30,000 additional police officers to permanently address the chronic shortage facing the force.