By Wellington Jopelo
Not fewer than 100,000 police officers assigned to VIPs and politicians, have been withdrawn by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, directing that they return to main policing duties across the country.
The move comes as Nigeria faces rising terrorist attacks, with the President insisting that more officers must be on ground to protect ordinary citizens.
According to the Presidency, VIPs who need escorts will now be guarded by operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, as the police shift focus to fighting insecurity, counter-insurgency operations, and improving community safety nationwide.
The President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, explained that the directive was issued during a security meeting in Abuja attended by the service chiefs and the DSS boss. He added that the country cannot afford to keep thousands of officers on private duties while many communities remain exposed.
On Sunday, Onanuga confirmed that President Tinubu approved the recruitment of 30,000 new police personnel and plans to upgrade police training facilities in partnership with state governments.
The meeting was attended by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Waidi Shaibu; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke; Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; and DSS Director-General, Tosin Adeola Ajayi.
Meanwhile, the military has begun reviewing the controversial withdrawal of troops from St. Mary Private Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Niger State, shortly before bandits attacked the school and kidnapped dozens of students. Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, questioned why soldiers pulled out despite warnings that the area was under threat.
Governor Idris, who received NLC President Joe Ajaero on a solidarity visit, said he was “deeply troubled” by the timing of the withdrawal. According to him, intelligence reports were shared ahead of the attack, yet security personnel reportedly left the school around 3am — barely 45 minutes before the bandits arrived.
The District Head of Maga, Muhammad Dantani, also confirmed that soldiers were at the school around midnight but left shortly after. “Unknown to us, they left the school around 1 a.m., just a short time before the attack began,” he said.
Police officers on duty at the school said they took cover during the assault because the attackers were heavily armed and outnumbered them.
Reacting to the criticism, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, said the military is already investigating what happened. He promised that the findings would determine whether troop movements were mishandled and assured Nigerians that the search-and-rescue operation for the abducted students is still ongoing.