FG Redeploys Withdrawn VIP Police Escorts to Insecurity-Prone Communities

The Federal Government has announced that a significant number of police officers previously assigned to protect Very Important Persons (VIPs) have been withdrawn and redeployed to communities grappling with severe security challenges across the country.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this development, noting that the move is part of the government’s intensified efforts to curb rising violence, particularly in the North-Central region.

According to the minister, the affected officers have been reassigned to carry out “core community policing functions” in states such as Kwara, Plateau, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

This strategic redeployment comes in the wake of recent terrorist attacks, including a deadly incident in Kwara State that claimed approximately 75 lives.

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President Bola Tinubu, who condemned the killings as “beastly” and “heartless,” had ordered the full mobilization of state resources to protect civilians and apprehend the perpetrators.

Idris explained that the enhanced security measures under “Operation Savannah Shield” now include better intelligence gathering, rapid-response units, and increased visible policing, especially around places of worship.

He emphasized that the redeployed personnel are already delivering measurable improvements in security presence within the affected states.

The minister further stated that the President remains committed to safeguarding Nigerian lives and upholding the fundamental right of citizens to worship freely.

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This commitment is being demonstrated through coordinated efforts with local community and faith leaders to strengthen security architecture.

While welcoming selective international cooperation on intelligence and surveillance from partners like the United States, the government reiterated that Nigeria’s counter-terrorism operations remain fully Nigerian-led.

The directive aligns with President Tinubu’s order in November 2025 for the immediate withdrawal of police officers attached to VIPs to bolster national security.