In a decisive move to strengthen national security, President Bola Tinubu has ordered the withdrawal of over 100,000 police officers currently assigned to protect Very Important Persons (VIPs) and politicians. The redeployed officers will now focus on core policing duties, including counter-insurgency operations, amid escalating terrorist attacks across Nigeria.
The directive, announced on Sunday in Abuja during a security meeting with Service Chiefs and the Director-General of the DSS, aims to address severe policing deficits caused by personnel diversion to VIP protection. According to the European Union Agency for Asylum, Nigeria’s police force of 371,800 officers struggles to serve a population of 236.7 million, leaving many communities underprotected.
VIPs will now receive protection from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, while President Tinubu has approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional police personnel and upgrades to police training facilities nationwide.
The redeployment follows recent high-profile incidents, including the abduction of schoolgirls from St. Mary Private School, Papiri, Niger State, prompting military-led rescue operations. Fifty students have escaped so far, with 236 still in captivity. Coordinated efforts by the Nigerian Army, DSS, and other security agencies continue to rescue the remaining hostages.
State governments, including Kebbi and Niger, have temporarily closed schools to safeguard students amid rising attacks, while security experts stress that protecting education and public safety requires a combination of military action, community vigilance, and addressing root causes of insecurity.
The Tinubu administration emphasizes that the redeployment of police officers is a strategic step to restore security, protect citizens, and prevent further abductions and terrorist threats across Nigeria.
