The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun has directed all state Commissioners of Police to take control of Special Protection Unit (SPU) bases in their jurisdictions and redeploy personnel previously assigned to VIP protection to conventional anti-crime operations.

The order, issued via an internal police wireless message from the Department of Operations (DOPS) at Force Headquarters, aims to strengthen frontline policing amid rising insecurity across the country.

Key points from the directive:

• SPU bases will now be under direct control of state commands.
• VIP protection officers will be retrained if necessary to ensure effectiveness in crime prevention.
• Each command must submit a list of redeployed personnel to Force Headquarters for monitoring.
• Compliance with the order is mandatory.

Implication: The move signals a shift from providing personal security for VIPs to prioritizing community and anti-crime policing nationwide.