IGP EGBETOKUN RECALLS OVER 11,000 POLICE OFFICERS FROM VIP DUTIES, REDEPLOYS THEM TO FRONTLINE SECURITY OPERATIONS
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| Inspector-General of Police- IGP Egbetokun |
In a decisive move to reinforce national security, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, has announced the withdrawal and redeployment of 11,566 police officers previously assigned to VIP protection duties.
The development, disclosed in Abuja on Thursday during a strategic meeting with senior police commanders, follows President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to strengthen frontline policing and address rising security concerns across the country.
According to the IGP, the massive recall is part of a broader effort to reposition the Nigeria Police Force for efficiency, visibility, and enhanced public safety. He stressed that the redeployment is not motivated by sentiment but by a pressing need to allocate manpower to areas where security demands are most urgent.
“The withdrawal is not a retreat from responsibility, but a reclamation of it,” Egbetokun stated, noting that the officers are already being reassigned to their core policing duties.
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| Nigeria Police Force Headquarters codenamed Loius Edet House, Abuja |
The redeployed personnel will now support operations such as:
* Rural and township security reinforcement
* Intensified patrols and stop-and-search operations
* Intelligence-driven raids and counter-crime deployments
* Rapid response to kidnapping, banditry, and emerging threats
The IGP acknowledged recent security incidents, including abductions in some states, which have raised questions about the effectiveness of policing efforts. He clarified that while challenges remain, the force continues to push aggressively for improved results.
“We may not be doing enough, but it is not that we are not working,” he said, reaffirming the Force’s commitment to higher operational standards.
Egbetokun also highlighted recent achievements, including the arrest of over 8,200 suspects and the rescue of 232 kidnapped victims in nationwide operations in recent weeks.
With the festive season drawing near, the IGP has directed all state commands to activate enhanced security protocols, which will feature:
* Expanded highway patrols
* Strengthened presence at motor parks and public terminals
* Deployment of drones and AI-powered surveillance systems
* Improved inter-agency collaboration for rapid incident response
The Nigeria Police Force is expected to release detailed guidelines for the VIP withdrawal directive in the coming days to prevent impersonation and exploitation by criminal elements.
This redeployment marks one of the most sweeping manpower realignments in recent years and signals a renewed push by law enforcement authorities to reclaim public spaces, deter crime, and restore citizens’ confidence in national security.
— BSTV News