Prominent Nigerians are turning to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for protection following the federal government’s withdrawal of 11,566 police officers previously assigned as VIP escorts.

The decision, approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is part of a national strategy to redeploy overstretched police personnel to rising security threats, especially the growing cases of kidnapping and violent crime across Kwara, Kebbi, Niger, and other northern states.

Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, clarified that the withdrawal was neither punitive nor political but a necessary response to worsening insecurity.

He said, “In line with the President’s directive, a total of 11,566 officers have been recalled from VIP protection. They are being redeployed to critical policing duties immediately.”

The IGP explained that the reallocation would strengthen security in rural and urban communities, enhance intelligence driven operations, and improve rapid response capacity. He also warned that the implementation must be protected from criminals who may attempt to impersonate security personnel.

He added, “The withdrawal is not a retreat from responsibility but a reclamation of it.”

Egbetokun linked the policy to recent incidents of mass abductions in Kwara, Kebbi, and Niger states, noting that police manpower must be directed to high risk areas. He also highlighted recent operational successes, including the arrest of 451 armed robbery suspects, 356 kidnapping suspects, 534 murder suspects, 129 suspects for culpable homicide, 173 arrests for unlawful possession of firearms, 312 rape suspects, and 282 suspected cultists.

Despite the directive, some police officers have quietly resumed VIP duties. One officer, who asked not to be named, said, “Those withdrawn from VIP duties are returning. I saw some of them today. In my office alone, two are already back. But it seems the directive may be enforced more strictly this time.”

Another officer added, “Some officers are gradually returning to their previous VIP assignments. I don’t know which VIPs they were serving before, but colleagues are returning.”

Findings showed that several political figures, including former SDP presidential candidate Prince Adewole Adebayo and suspended PDP National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, were affected by the withdrawal.

During a Thursday morning meeting in Abuja’s Central Business District, Prince Adebayo was seen with NSCDC personnel and private guards. Attempts to reach him for confirmation were unsuccessful. Samuel Anyanwu, however, confirmed that his police orderlies had been withdrawn.