The Nigerian Police Force has ordered all officers attached to VIPs and special beats to return to their bases immediately. The directive was issued in a memo signed by Neji Veronica, Commanding Officer of the Special Protection Unit (SPU) Base 16 in Lagos, and shared by the Presidency on X. Officers were instructed to report back before the close of business on November 24.
The memo stated that the withdrawal follows President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent order directing the immediate recall of police personnel assigned to VIPs across the country. It added that affected officers must attend a Lecture Parade the next day, with attendance taken strictly from the nominal roll.
President Tinubu had announced that VIPs who require security would now have to request armed protection from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), instead of the police. This change, according to the Presidency, aims to strengthen police presence in communities where officers are too few.
The Presidency explained that many remote areas suffer from understaffed police stations, leaving residents vulnerable. Redirecting officers from VIP duties, it said, will help the police focus on core responsibilities and improve national security.
