Nigeria TV Info 

Mass abduction crisis: Tinubu pulls 100,000 policemen from VIPS

President Bola Tinubu orders withdrawal of approx. 100,000 police officers from VIP protection roles to refocus them on community policing and counter-terror operations amid a surge in abductions and security threats across Nigeria.

In a strategic move to bolster national security, President Bola Tinubu has directed that around 100,000 policemen currently assigned to protect Very Important Persons (VIPs) and politically exposed individuals be redeployed to core policing duties.

The directive was issued during a Sunday security meeting in Abuja attended by senior service chiefs including the Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Waidi Shaibu, Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun and the DG of the Department of State Services, Tosin Ajayi.

According to the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, many police stations—especially in remote areas—have been operating with severely understaffed personnel because large numbers of officers have been tied up in VIP security detail. This, he said, undermines the force’s capacity to deal with abductions, banditry and other security challenges.

Under the new arrangement:

• Police officers will be redeployed to policing and anti-terror operations in communities.
• VIPs who still require protection will now have to rely on the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) instead of police.
• The government has also approved recruitment of 30,000 additional police personnel and pledged to work with states to upgrade training facilities nationwide.

The shift comes against a backdrop of escalating mass abduction incidents in Nigeria, including attacks on schools, churches and communities, where security forces have struggled to respond effectively. The policy change is seen as an attempt to rebalance resource allocation and strengthen presence in vulnerable zones.

Implications & Challenges

• The withdrawal could free up significant manpower for frontline security and rapid response.
• However, questions remain about how the NSCDC will absorb VIP-security responsibilities, whether they have adequate training and logistics.
• The success of the initiative will hinge on how swiftly redeployed officers are integrated into community policing and counter-terror duties and whether the recruitment and training programmes can deliver.
• Local communities will expect improved responsiveness and presence of police patrols and stations, especially in previously neglected rural or remote areas.