The Inspector General of Police has ordered a nationwide clampdown on officers providing personal security escorts to VIPs, following a directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

According to a confidential wireless signal obtained by SaharaReporters, the order—dated November 30, 2025—was circulated to all state commands and specialised police units, mandating strict enforcement.

The memo, addressed to senior officers across the Department of Operations, Zonal AIGs, the Mobile Police Force, the VIP Protection Unit, Counter-Terrorism Force, Federal Operations units, and all state and area commands, stated that any officer found escorting a VIP outside approved official duties must be arrested immediately.

“Following the presidential directive to withdraw all police escorts from VIPs, all commands are to arrest any officer found escorting any VIP within your AOR. Disciplinary measures will also be taken against any supervising officer who fails to ensure compliance,” the directive read.

Supervisory officers were specifically warned that they would face disciplinary action for any breach under their watch. Enforcement responsibilities were assigned to Compol X-Squad units and the IGP Monitoring Unit, with instructions for heightened surveillance across all commands.

Classified as “very important,” the memo stressed that no further warnings would be issued.

The police order stems from ongoing concerns that security personnel are being diverted for private use rather than public safety. President Tinubu had earlier, on November 23, 2025, instructed that police officers assigned to VIPs be withdrawn and redeployed to core policing functions.

The directive was issued during a high-level security meeting in Abuja attended by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu; the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke; Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; and the Director-General of the DSS, Tosin Adeola Ajayi.

Under the revised policy, VIPs requiring protection must request armed security from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

The move is part of broader efforts to address escalating insecurity and reinforce police presence in underserved communities where manpower shortages have hindered effective policing.