Panic In High Places As Tinubu Pulls Plug On VIP Police Escorts

According to Ireporter Online, fresh anxiety has swept through the country’s elite following President Bola Tinubu’s directive ordering the immediate withdrawal of police escorts assigned to Very Important Persons. The decision, announced by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, mandates that police officers previously attached to politicians, business executives, and other influential figures be reassigned to core policing responsibilities nationwide.

The statement further noted that any VIP still in need of close protection must now formally request armed personnel from the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps. However, senior police insiders disclosed that the new policy has triggered widespread panic among many of the affected individuals, who have reportedly been bombarding the Force Headquarters with calls seeking clarity and assurances.

Sources familiar with the situation revealed that concerns are rising over whether the Civil Defence Corps has the expertise, equipment and field capability to offer the same level of security provided by police units, particularly mobile police officers known for their tactical readiness. One source described the fears bluntly, saying the replacement “would feel like engaging Boy Scouts,” given the comparative combat preparedness of mobile policemen.

A top-ranking VIP who spoke with Ireporter Online explained that escort duties have long been woven into Nigeria’s security culture, driven by heightened threats to high-profile personalities. But he stressed that diverting police manpower to private protection has increasingly weakened public security, urging authorities to review and rationalise the system instead of enforcing an outright withdrawal that may deepen existing fears across society.

He argued that while VIP protection is often justified by high-risk profiles, the practice places an enormous burden on public resources and reinforces a perception that the security system prioritises the privileged over ordinary citizens.

A serving police officer, who requested anonymity, also questioned whether the extensive allocation of officers to VIP convoys has compromised the force’s ability to respond effectively to crime. He pointed out that in a nation battling insurgency, kidnapping, armed robbery and communal violence, deploying law enforcement personnel to protect wealthy individuals who can afford private security has become increasingly controversial.

He further disclosed that the demand for VIP escorts has strained police operations nationwide, leaving patrol teams understaffed and prolonging response times in high-crime communities. In some cases, officers assigned to volatile areas are redirected to convoy duties, weakening security in locations that urgently need robust patrols. Another insider at the Force Headquarters lamented that entire units are sometimes dedicated to guarding a single governor or businessman for an entire day, leaving their assigned districts exposed.

Human rights advocate Tony Udemmadu warned that the biggest danger lies in the erosion of public confidence in the police. He noted that citizens now view the escort system as a symbol of deep social inequality, with the elite enjoying full protection while everyday Nigerians face rising insecurity with limited support from law enforcement. He added that in regions already troubled by violent crime, such as parts of the Northeast and Niger Delta, the scarcity of officers—due largely to escort obligations—worsens the vulnerability of residents.