The Inspector-General of Police has approved the demobilisation of officers attached to No. 24 police mobile force (PMF) presidential escort at the State House in Abuja, with immediate redeployment to state commands nationwide.
A police signal dated December 16, 2025, and referenced CH:5660/WEL/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.96, directed senior formations to effect the movement of the affected officers without delay.
The signal was issued by the department of finance and administration (welfare) at force headquarters, Abuja.
It was addressed to the deputy inspector-general of police in charge of operations, assistant inspectors-general overseeing PMF and zonal commands, and commissioners of police across the country.
The directive confirmed that the officers affected were those deployed for close protection duties at the presidential villa.
The officers are to return from Abuja to their respective state commands, including Adamawa, Kebbi, Kaduna, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Bayelsa, Cross River, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, and the federal capital territory.
Other commands receiving redeployed officers include Imo, Jigawa, Kogi, Kano, Katsina, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Ondo, Osun, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba, and Yobe.
The signal also indicated redeployments to police zones, including zones 1 (Kano), 3 (Yola), and 7 (Abuja).
Copies of the directive were sent to the chief personal security officer to the president, the commander of No. 24 PMF Abuja, and police formations across several state capitals.
The redeployment follows President Bola Tinubu’s directive in November ordering the withdrawal of police officers from VIP escort and guard duties.
Tinubu had directed that the officers be reassigned to core policing duties amid rising insecurity across the country.
The directive has triggered enforcement measures, including the deployment of special police teams to monitor compliance and the assignment of civil defence officers to replace withdrawn escorts.