TIMELINE: 10 times authorities ordered withdrawal of police officers from VIPs

Amid renewed gunmen attacks and abductions across the country, President Bola Tinubu on Sunday, ordered the immediate withdrawal of all police officers attached to very important persons (VIPs) nationwide.

The directive was issued during a high-level security meeting at the State House attended by the inspector-general of police (IGP), the chief of army staff, the chief of air staff, and the director-general of the Department of State Services (DSS).

VIPs who still require armed protection have been directed by the president to source same from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) rather than the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

The goal, according to the presidency, is to redeploy thousands of officers to understaffed stations, especially in rural and high-risk communities.

However, this directive is not new. It is the latest chapter in a decade-long ritual.

Successive IGPs have issued directives to withdraw police orderlies from politicians, private individuals, and unauthorised VIPs, with the objective to redeploy officers to understaffed and high-risk areas.

However, despite repeated announcements, implementation has often been partial or reversed due to political pressures.

Below are some instances.

TAFA BALOGUN (2003)

In 2003, then IGP Mustafa Adebayo Balogun initiated one of the earliest major attempts to withdraw police orderlies from judicial officers and politicians nationwide.

Balogun’s directive targeted the removal of police security detail from certain dignitaries, including judges, to curb the misuse of police personnel.

The move was met with mixed reactions. Notably, Tinubu, who was governor of Lagos at the time, called for a re-evaluation of the policy.

Within weeks, the police reversed part of the decision, reinstating police orderlies to judges.

However, in 2004, Balogun renewed efforts by ordering the withdrawal of police orderlies from private individuals.

OGBONNAYA ONOVO (2009)

Upon assuming office in August 2009, Ogbonnaya Onovo, a former IGP, issued a sweeping order mandating all police personnel serving as private orderlies to return to their bases.

This directive extended to former heads of state, ministers, legislators, and state governors.

Onovo had said such security privileges were not sanctioned by the federal executive council (FEC), which had previously defined a limited list of political and public officeholders entitled to police aides.

His list included the president, vice-president, chief justice, state governors, ministers, and certain judicial officers, but excluded former officeholders, spouses of serving officials, and private individuals.

Onovo gave a seven-day ultimatum for compliance, citing the degradation of police professionalism caused by officers performing menial tasks such as carrying handbags or opening doors for VIPs.

He estimated that over 100,000 officers were attached as escorts, many illegally, draining manpower from critical policing duties.

HAFIZ RINGIM (2010)

Hafiz Ringim, who succeeded Onovo, reinforced the withdrawal policy by cautioning officers guarding unauthorised individuals to return to their commands or face arrest and prosecution.

Ringim established a special monitoring unit to ensure adherence to the directive, signalling a more rigorous enforcement approach.

MOHAMMED ABUBAKAR (2012)

In 2012, IGP Mohammed Abubakar continued the reform trajectory with a focus on restoring police professionalism and integrity.

Among his directives was the cancellation and withdrawal of all approved police guards assigned to private individuals and corporate bodies.

Abubakar framed the withdrawal as essential for improving service delivery to the public and building a strong, vibrant police force capable of meeting Nigeria’s security challenges.

SOLOMON ARASE (2016)

Shortly after taking office in January 2016, Solomon Arase ordered the immediate withdrawal of police orderlies attached to politicians and unauthorised VIPs.

He described the practice as a significant drain on manpower and directed that affected officers be redeployed to sensitive operational duties.

Despite some redeployments, political pressure led to many VIPs quietly regaining their police escorts within weeks, illustrating the persistent resistance to reform.

IBRAHIM IDRIS (2018)

IGP Ibrahim Idris issued one of the most comprehensive orders in March 2018, mandating the withdrawal of all police officers attached to politicians, private citizens, and corporate bodies. He instructed state commissioners of police to approve escorts only based on genuine threat assessments.

However, the directive quickly collapsed as officers were observed returning to VIP duties within days, underscoring the challenges of enforcing such reforms amid entrenched interests.

MOHAMMED ADAMU (2020)

In the aftermath of the #EndSARS protests, Mohammed Adamu announced a nationwide withdrawal of police escorts from “unentitled persons” in October 2020.

He listed over 60 high-profile individuals and organisations, including Femi Fani-Kayode and Christ Embassy, whose police details were to be withdrawn.

The directive received significant attention but was selectively enforced and quietly abandoned within weeks.

USMAN ALKALI BABA (2021)

Newly appointed IGP Usman Alkali Baba reiterated the withdrawal policy in June 2021, ordering the removal of all mobile police personnel serving as guards or escorts to private individuals and companies. He argued that the Nigerian constitution does not provide for private police orderlies.

As with previous efforts, implementation was inconsistent and short-lived, with many VIPs retaining or regaining police protection.

KAYODE EGBETOKUN (2023–2025)

Upon his appointment as acting IGP in June 2023, Kayode Egbetokun announced plans to withdraw all Police Mobile Force (PMF) personnel from VIP escort duties and replace them with a new Special Intervention Squad.

The announcement elicited commendation in certain quarters, but actual withdrawals were minimal.

By November 2023, Egbetokun clarified that the withdrawal applied only to “non-entitled” VIPs, allowing serving governors, ministers, and other designated officials to retain police details.

This partial retreat strengthened suspicions that the initial announcement was largely symbolic or performative.

In April 2025, Egbetokun renewed efforts, directing commanders to compile lists and return PMF personnel to barracks for reorientation and redeployment. Despite some progress, many VIPs in Abuja and state capitals soon had new police escorts.

POSTSCRIPT

The latest directive from President Tinubu transfers responsibility for VIP protection from the police to the NSCDC.

This alternative aims to break the cycle of resistance that has plagued previous withdrawal efforts — by placing VIP security under a different agency.