Nigerians React as Tinubu Orders Withdrawal of Police from VIPs, Redeployment to Core Duties

Reactions continue to follow President Bola Tinubu’s directive to withdraw around 100,000 police officers currently attached to Very Important Persons (VIPs) and politicians, with plans to redeploy them to core policing duties, including counter-insurgency operations.

The decision, announced during a security briefing at the State House, Abuja, comes amid Nigeria’s escalating security challenges. Tinubu also approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional police officers to strengthen the nation’s security apparatus.

While some Nigerians have welcomed the move, others remain sceptical about its practical implementation. Former federal lawmaker Senator Shehu Sani expressed doubts on X, saying, “Withdrawal of police from VIPs is a good idea and a good policy statement in view of the nation’s urgent security needs, but it will only begin and end up as a statement.”

In contrast, former presidential media aide Bashir Ahmad praised the president’s directive, noting that security agencies can now “focus primarily on their essential policing responsibilities.” On X, he wrote: “President Bola Tinubu has directed the removal of police officers who are currently assigned to protect VIPs. From this point onward, law enforcement agencies will allocate their resources to focus primarily on their essential policing responsibilities. This is so good coming from the Presidency.”

NIGERIA NEWS 247 recalls that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) had previously ordered the withdrawal of Mobile Police officers attached to VIPs on April 24, 2025.