The military has arrested four police officers for allegedly providing unauthorised escort services to a VIP in violation of President Bola Tinubu’s directive withdrawing police personnel from VIP protection duties.
Police sources revealed that the arrests took place on December 17 at about 9:30am while the officers were reportedly on escort duty.
Those arrested were identified as Musa Waziri, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, and Jeremiah Achimogu, an Inspector, both attached to the 45 police mobile force in Abuja.
Also arrested were Awipi Terry, an Inspector with the 21 Police Mobile Force, and Hassan Baba, an Inspector attached to the 50 Police Mobile Force in Abuja.
Security sources said the officers were apprehended by military personnel after allegedly flouting the presidential order withdrawing police personnel from VIP escort assignments.
The sources said the officers were dressed in uniforms resembling those of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, allegedly to evade detection and mislead enforcement personnel.
The arrested officers have since been detained, while disciplinary procedures were said to have been initiated against them in line with existing regulations.
The development comes amid reports that the directive by the Nigeria Police Force to withdraw officers attached to private individuals and VIPs has been widely undermined.
Sources familiar with the matter alleged that some affected officers resorted to disguises, bribery and administrative manipulation to return to duty.
According to the sources, some police officers affected by the withdrawal order have been wearing vigilante and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps uniforms to evade detection while continuing escort duties.
They alleged that officers were instructed to return their service rifles for redeployment but later had the same weapons reissued after paying as much as N500,000.
“Police officers are now disguising themselves in vigilante and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps uniforms to evade the so-called withdrawal order,” one of the sources said.
“Each officer was instructed to return their service rifle, only to have the same weapon reissued after paying N500,000, after which they resumed duty as usual,” the source added.
The sources also said some police guards now wear corporate suits and operate as private drivers for VIPs while still providing armed protection.
“Some police guards now wear suits and operate as private drivers for VIPs, and most officers have already returned to work,” another source said.