The Nigerian Police Force has issued a nationwide directive mandating the immediate arrest of any officer providing personal security for VIPs. This directive, stemming from explicit instructions from the presidency, seeks to curtail the misuse of police resources and refocus efforts on core policing responsibilities.
A confidential communication, dated November 30, 2025, and obtained by TimeAfrica, reveals that the Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, has directed all state police commands and specialized units to enforce this new policy strictly. The memo, which emphasizes that officers caught escorting VIPs beyond official duty areas will face immediate arrest, has been circulated among senior police officials, including those overseeing Operations, the Mobile Police Force, and the VIP Protection Unit.
“Following the presidential directive to withdraw, all states to arrest any police officer found escorting any VIP in AOR yours,” the document states, adding that disciplinary actions will be taken against supervising officers who fail to ensure compliance. The directive also restricts enforcement duties to specific units, with an urgent request for strict monitoring across all commands, indicating its critical nature by being marked “very important.”
The directive is a response to growing concerns regarding the misuse of security personnel, particularly as the nation grapples with increasing crime rates and security threats. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu addressed these issues during a security meeting on November 23, 2025, alongside key military and intelligence leaders.
The new arrangement directs that VIPs seeking protection must now request well-armed personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC),