VIP Police Withdrawal Fails as Officers Disguise Themselves as Vigilantes — Report

According to an exclusive report by Sahara Reporters, President Bola Tinubu’s directive to withdraw police officers from private and VIP protection duties has largely failed, with many officers circumventing the order by disguising themselves as vigilantes, NSCDC personnel, or private drivers to continue providing armed protection.

The directive, issued to Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, required officers to return to their bases and surrender service rifles for redeployment to core policing duties. However, Sahara Reporters has learned that some officers paid bribes of up to ₦500,000 to reclaim their weapons and resume duty under informal arrangements.

“Police officers are now disguising themselves in vigilante and NSCDC uniforms to evade the withdrawal order,” one source said. “Others wear suits and operate as private drivers for VIPs. Most officers have already returned to work.”

The IGP’s monitoring team, tasked with enforcing compliance, has reportedly been largely symbolic. “A few officers were arrested for show and quickly released,” the source added. Critics say the withdrawal has not reduced VIP policing and has primarily benefited senior officers, leaving the practice largely unchanged.

President Tinubu announced the withdrawal on November 23, 2025, to redirect police personnel to core duties amid rising insecurity in states such as Kebbi and Niger. He encouraged VIPs to seek protection from the NSCDC and approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional officers.

While citizens welcomed the move as a way to strengthen public safety, some political elites resisted. Senators and other officials expressed concerns over personal security without police escorts. Senate President Godswill Akpabio raised these concerns during the 2026 Appropriation Bill presentation.

Previous administrations made similar withdrawal attempts, but enforcement was weak. Current reports suggest the deployment of police to VIPs continues despite official directives.