Many high-profile individuals across the country are said to be gripped with fear following President Bola Tinubu’s directive ordering the withdrawal of police escorts assigned to Very Important Persons (VIPs).
Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, announced the directive on Sunday, stating that police personnel previously attached to politicians, businessmen, and other VIPs would now be redeployed to core law enforcement duties.
According to him, VIPs who still require personal protection must henceforth request “well-armed personnel from the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).”
However, police sources told Vanguard that the announcement triggered panic among affected VIPs, many of whom have been inundating the Force Headquarters with calls seeking explanations and reassurances.
According to insiders, the major concern among VIPs is whether the NSCDC has the training, equipment, and operational capacity to provide the level of security they are accustomed to with police officers.
A source said, “He told us that it will be like engaging Boy Scouts to protect them as the mobile policemen they normally engage are more agile and battle-ready to confront any situation.”
Another VIP told Vanguard, “The practice of providing police escorts to high ranking officers and VIP’s has become a major feature of the security landscape in Nigeria but it must be noted that as the country grapples with growing security concerns, the use of police personnel for VIP protection has raised significant questions about its broader implications on public safety and the overall effectiveness of the police force.”
He called for rationalisation of the exercise to serve the purpose, rather than a blanket stoppage, which, according to him, will increase the prevailing fears of insecurity in society.
He said, “The justification behind this practice often rests on the high-profile nature of individuals involved, the perceived threat to their safety, and the desire to project power and influence.
“While these measures are meant to offer security for influential figures, the broader implication is that they come at a high cost to the public, both in terms of the security resources diverted and the moral perception of a system that favours the few over the many.”
However, a serving police officer who pleaded anonymity told Vanguard that the fundamental question that arose was whether the allocation of police officers to VIPs compromised the ability of the police to respond effectively to criminal activities within communities.
“In a country grappling with a wide range of security threats, including insurgencies, armed robberies, kidnappings, and communal violence, the use of law enforcement personnel to safeguard individuals who can afford private security is a cause for concern,” the officer said.
He also revealed that the growing demand for VIP protection significantly impacted the distribution of resources across the force.
“Police patrol teams in certain areas are often understaffed, and response times to distress calls are prolonged as a result of the overwhelming number of officers assigned to VIP duties. In some cases, police officers are redirected from high-crime areas to provide convoy escorts, leaving already vulnerable communities to fend for themselves,’’ he added.
A source within Force’s headquarters in Abuja said, “We have several cases where a unit is deployed for an entire day to protect a governor or a businessman, and that leaves their assigned zones with fewer officers to patrol. ‘’It is a major logistical challenge, and it undermines the overall effectiveness of policing.”
A human rights activist, Tony Udemmadu, in his comment, stated, “The most concerning aspect of VIP police escorts is their potential to undermine public trust in law enforcement. The Nigerian public increasingly perceives the practice as a symbol of inequality. ‘’While the elite enjoy protection and attention from the police, ordinary Nigerians often find themselves facing mounting insecurity without sufficient resources or support from the police.
“In regions plagued by violent crimes, such as the Niger Delta or the Northeast, the absence of visible police presence due to escort assignments exacerbates the already precarious situation for citizens.”
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