The Nigerian military has arrested four police officers for allegedly providing unauthorised escort services to a VIP, in violation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive withdrawing policemen from VIP protection duties.
Police sources told Zagazola Makama that the arrest took place on December 17, at about 9:30 a.m., while the officers were reportedly on escort assignment.
Those arrested were identified as Assistant Superintendent of Police Musa Waziri and Inspector Jeremiah Achimogu, both attached to 45 Police Mobile Force, Abuja; Inspector Awipi Terry of 21 PMF; and Inspector Hassan Baba of 50 PMF, Abuja.
According to security sources, the officers were apprehended by military personnel after allegedly flouting the presidential order that barred police officers from providing VIP escort services.
The sources further disclosed that the policemen were dressed in uniforms resembling those of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), allegedly in an attempt to evade detection and deceive enforcement personnel.
Following their arrest, the officers were detained, while disciplinary procedures were said to have been initiated against them in line with existing regulations of the Nigeria Police Force.
The Federal Government had earlier ordered the immediate withdrawal of police personnel from unauthorised VIP protection duties as part of efforts to redeploy manpower to core policing responsibilities and internal security operations across the country.
The directive was aimed at strengthening police presence for routine law enforcement and addressing rising security challenges nationwide.