By Abubakar Ojima-ojo
The Nigeria Police Force has warned that any officer found providing escort for Very Important Persons will be arrested, insisting the assignment is now classified as “illegal duty”.
Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, issued the warning on Tuesday while appearing on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
He said enforcement had begun nationwide, with all officers previously attached to VIP protection already withdrawn.
“The enforcement is on. The IGP gave the directive that any police officer found escorting VIPs be arrested because, definitely, he is on illegal duty. Every one of them has been recalled,” Hundeyin stated.
He explained that Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, had instructed senior commanders to ensure full compliance.
According to him, the AIG in charge of the Special Protection Unit was ordered to deploy personnel to Abuja airport to arrest any officer still escorting VIPs.
“He gave the same order to the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State to go to the Lagos airport and arrest any police officer escorting VIPs. That’s how seriously we take this,” he added.
Hundeyin also noted that President Bola Tinubu’s directive on the withdrawal of police escorts was absolute and not influenced by “the highest bidder”.
The decision, he said, aims to free more officers for core policing duties amid rising insecurity nationwide.
