Military Arrests Four Police Officers for Defying Tinubu’s Order on VIP Escort Duties

Four police officers have been arrested by the Nigerian Army for allegedly providing unauthorised VIP escort services in defiance of President Bola Tinubu’s directive withdrawing police personnel from non-essential VIP protection duties.

Security sources said the arrest occurred on December 17 at about 9:30 a.m. while the officers were reportedly on escort duty. Those arrested were identified as Assistant Superintendent of Police Musa Waziri and Inspector Jeremiah Achimogu, both attached to the 45 Police Mobile Force in Abuja; Inspector Awipi Terry of 21 Police Mobile Force; and Inspector Hassan Baba of 50 Police Mobile Force, Abuja.

The officers were apprehended by military personnel after allegedly violating the presidential order mandating the withdrawal of policemen from VIP escort assignments. Sources further disclosed that the officers were dressed in uniforms resembling those of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in an alleged attempt to evade detection and mislead enforcement agents.

The arrested policemen are currently in detention, while disciplinary procedures have reportedly been initiated against them in accordance with existing regulations.

The development comes amid widespread reports that the directive by the Nigeria Police Force to withdraw officers attached to private individuals and VIPs has been repeatedly undermined. Credible sources have indicated that many affected officers returned to duty through disguises, bribery, and administrative manipulation.

According to the sources, some police officers have resorted to wearing uniforms of vigilante groups and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to continue providing protection services while avoiding enforcement. Others were said to have adopted alternative disguises, including wearing corporate suits and operating as private drivers for VIPs, while still carrying arms.

As part of the directive issued by President Tinubu to the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, officers attached to non-essential VIP duties were instructed to return to their bases and submit their service rifles for redeployment to core policing functions. However, sources alleged that the same weapons were reissued to some officers after payments of up to ₦500,000, after which they resumed duty under informal arrangements.

Sources also claimed that although a monitoring team was constituted by the Inspector-General of Police to enforce compliance, the exercise was largely symbolic, with only a few officers briefly arrested and later released. They described the withdrawal policy as ineffective, arguing that it has not resulted in any meaningful reduction in the deployment of police officers to private individuals.