The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has said the presidential order to withdraw police escorts from VIPs has revealed the true number of officers diverted from core policing duties.
President Bola Tinubu directed the immediate recall of police personnel assigned to political office holders and influential individuals nationwide, as part of a broader strategy to improve police efficiency and public safety. Speaking on Thursday at a meeting with police commanders in Abuja, the IGP said misleading social media claims prompted him to clarify the scale of VIP protection.
“We have already withdrawn 11,566 personnel. Some posts claim 120,000 officers are attached to private individuals – these are lies”, Egbetokun said.
He added that previous attempts to reduce VIP security had met resistance. “We instructed that those seeking protection must reapply, and we profiled applicants. Many recalled officers had not yet been reassigned before the president’s order”, he said.
The IGP said the directive removes political and personal pressures on the police. “This allows us to implement a policy we’ve long pursued. No governor, minister, or associate can now lobby for special protection”.
He noted the redeployment addresses manpower shortages in frontline policing. “With the surplus of 11,566 officers, we are sending them to core policing functions”, he said, assuring that their welfare in remote or rural areas will be prioritized.
On Wednesday, former Deputy Speaker of the House, Idris Wase, urged Tinubu to reconsider, citing worsening insecurity in the North-Central zone, where road travel has become unsafe for public officials.
The IGP confirmed the presidential order prompted a fresh audit, showing 11,566 officers currently assigned to VIP duties.
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