Fear has spread among VIPs nationwide as the police commence modalities for enforcing President Bola Tinubu’s directive withdrawing police escorts from high-profile individuals.
Fear has gripped VIPs across the country following President Bola Tinubu’s directive ordering the withdrawal of police escorts from influential individuals, with many seeking urgent clarifications from police headquarters over security concerns.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga announced that VIPs requiring protection would henceforth rely on the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, a shift that many affected persons worry may leave them vulnerable given NSCDC’s training and equipment gaps.
Some VIPs argue that police escorts have become integral to Nigeria’s security landscape and warn that a blanket withdrawal could worsen insecurity, while police sources admit that escort duties have overstretched personnel and undermined community policing. Human rights advocates say the practice deepens public mistrust by diverting officers from crime-prone areas.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, has yet to provide details on implementation.