IGP orders withdrawal of police officers guarding politicians, others

The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has issued a directive for the withdrawal of all police officers attached to individuals and political and public office holders nationwide

The IGP made the announcement during a conference with senior officers in Abuja on Monday, March 19, 2018.

He said, "In view of the current security challenges in the country, it has become expedient for the Nigeria Police Force to streamline the deployment of its personnel attached to political and public office holders, aimed at enhancing effective and efficient policing of the country.

"To this effect, a memo will be forwarded to the President for approval which will serve as a guideline or template for deployment to VIPs, political and public office holders in the country. Accordingly, a directive for withdrawal of all police officers deployed to VIPs, political and public office holders with immediate effect, is hereby given."

The police boss explained that businessmen, corporate organisations and individuals who required special police protection would be considered by the Special Protection Unit of the force on application for re-validation through the state Commissioners of Police where they are resident.

"By so doing, I am charging the Commissioners of Police with the responsibility of supervising such official deployment and thereby holding them accountable," he said.

IGP Idris further directed the holders of the police SPY number plates to return them to the Force Transport Officer and apply for re-validation.

To enforce the new directives, the police chief explained that a task force had been constituted at the Force headquarters, under the command of ACP Mohammed Dankwara, to ensure compliance as state commissioners of police are expected to replicate the same at their commands.

Commissioners were instructed to send the list of their task force teams to the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Operations, by March 31, 2018.

80% of police officers protecting prominent people

The IGP's directive is believed to be in reaction to the recent revelation that 80% of Nigerian police officers are guarding prominent Nigerians.

This was disclosed by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Zone 5, Rasheed Akintunde, while he was speaking to officers of the Bayelsa State Police Command on February 8, 2018.

He said, "Every big man wants personal security, they want a number of policemen to come and secure them and their family members, instead of supporting the police to work and ensure a safer environment.

"Honourable members want police security, even Reverend Fathers, Bishops now want police security, so the remaining 20% police the whole country.

"If we can redistribute policemen from some government formations and deploy them to work on their core duty, it will yield positive result."

The revelation led to some public uproar especially amid the spate of killings going on across the country that seems to have overwhelmed the police.