Abuja, November 27, 2025
The Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Kayode Egbetokun, says the Nigeria Police Force has withdrawn 11,566 officers from Very Important Persons (VIPs) following a presidential directive aimed at strengthening public security nationwide. He announced this during a conference with Strategic Police Managers, which included Commissioners and senior officers.
Egbetokun explained that the affected officers would be redeployed immediately to core policing units where their manpower was urgently needed. According to him, the directive is intended to shift security resources from personalised protection to broad public safety, ensuring stronger visibility and response across communities.
He cautioned, however, that the ongoing personnel recall must be handled carefully to prevent misinterpretation or political exploitation. “We are mindful of the risk of misinterpretation, misinformation and exploitation by undesirable elements who may seek to capitalise on the situation for personal or political advantage,” he said.
The I-G added that detailed guidelines would be released soon, first internally and later to the public, to ensure clarity, accountability and proper execution. He warned that ambiguity could enable impersonation, misinformation or attempts to undermine the initiative.
Egbetokun urged senior officers to prioritise synergy over rivalry, stressing that cooperation among security agencies remains essential to combating crime. He directed Commissioners of Police to intensify joint tactical patrols, intelligence sharing and coordinated operations with military support when necessary.
He also called for unified operational planning in high-risk states, regular intelligence roundtables with state authorities and improved cross-agency information sharing. The I-G further emphasized the need for expanded border-security operations, particularly in frontline states such as Kebbi, Niger and Sokoto.
Egbetokun maintained that the personnel recall is part of a broader effort to reinforce institutional integrity, strengthen public confidence and ensure that policing resources serve national rather than individual interests.
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