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EXCLUSIVE: Tinubu’s VIP Police Withdrawal Directive Fails As Officers Disguise As Vigilantes And Private Drivers, Pay Bribes To Resume Duty

According to the sources, some police officers affected by the withdrawal order have resorted to wearing uniforms of vigilante groups and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to evade detection, while continuing their duties as before.

The directive by the Nigeria Police Force to withdraw officers attached to private individuals and VIPs has been widely undermined, with officers reportedly returning to duty through disguises, bribery, and administrative manipulation, credible sources have told SaharaReporters.

According to the sources, some police officers affected by the withdrawal order have resorted to wearing uniforms of vigilante groups and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to evade detection, while continuing their duties as before.

As part of the recent directive by President Bola Tinubu to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to withdraw all police personnel from non-essential VIP protection duties, officers were instructed to return to their base and return their service rifles for redeployment to core policing roles.

However, SaharaReporters has learnt that the same weapons have be reissued to the personnel after the payment of as much as ₦500,000. Afterward, the officers reportedly resumed duty under informal arrangements.

“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 police sources said.

“Each officer was instructed to return their service rifle, only to have the same weapon reissued after paying ₦500,000. They then resumed duty as usual.”

Sources also disclosed that several police guards have adopted alternative disguises, including wearing corporate suits and operating as private drivers for VIPs, while still providing armed protection.

According to the sources, the majority of affected officers have already returned to work despite the withdrawal directive.

“Some police guards now wear suits and operate as private drivers for VIPs. Most officers have already returned to work,” the source said.

Although the Inspector-General of Police constituted a monitoring team to enforce compliance, sources claimed that the enforcement exercise was largely symbolic.

“The team arrested a few officers for show and they were immediately released,” one of the sources said.

The sources described the withdrawal policy as ineffective, arguing that it has not led to any meaningful reduction in the deployment of police officers to private individuals.

Instead, they alleged that the process has primarily benefited senior officers, while the practice it was meant to stop continues largely unchanged.

“This so-called VIP police withdrawal has changed nothing. It has merely enriched senior officers while the charade continues,” another source said.

The Presidential Directive

On November 23, 2025, during a high-level security meeting with service chiefs, President Tinubu directed that police officers attached to VIPs be withdrawn and redeployed to core policing duties.

The rationale was clear. Nigeria faces escalating insecurity, including mass kidnappings in Kebbi and Niger states, and the police force is overstretched. Meanwhile, thousands of officers are assigned to politicians, businessmen, and celebrities, leaving ordinary citizens vulnerable and leading to many ungoverned spaces.

Tinubu emphasised that VIPs who still require protection should seek personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) instead. To strengthen the police, he also approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional officers.

Reactions and Resistance

While many Nigerians welcomed the move as pragmatic, seeing it as a way to redirect manpower to fight crime, the directive has met stiff resistance from parts of the political elite.

For instance, some senators have expressed reservations about the presidential directive.

They argued that without police escorts, they might be unable to safely visit their constituencies, given the worsening insecurity. Senate President Godswill Akpabio also voiced these concerns during Tinubu’s presentation of the 2026 Appropriation Bill.

This directive is not unprecedented; previous administrations made similar attempts at withdrawals, but enforcement was ineffective.

Source: https://saharareporters.com/2025/12/22/exclusive-tinubus-vip-police-withdrawal-directive-fails-officers-disguise-vigilantes-and

The withdrawal order was a good move. But implementing it should have been done after the police had been sufficiently beefed up.

ebukal67x:
The withdrawal order was a good move. But implementing it should have been done after the police had been sufficiently beefed up.

Let me understand you correctly. Are you suggesting that no decision should have been made until we have trained an extra 150,000 police officers for the benefit of VIPs first?

The Police Service Commission, in a most recently published report, stated that more than 150,000 police officers were attached to VIPs and unauthorised persons in the country, out of the 400,000 police officers presently in service. However, insiders said there could be more, considering the increasing cases of insecurity in the country.

Source: https://guardian.ng/features/focus/security-for-hire-emerging-trend-in-police-protection-of-vips

The President if he means business knows what to do.

I have seen a number of them wearing their normal uniforms and still guarding VIPs. I don't think this policy is being implemented in anyway. The president just wasted his time.

Police Are the law breakers, I know they will not obey Tinubu since they don't even respect IGP. It shows level of decadence in the country.

An Oluwole president instructed his illegal IGP to stop illegal protection of VIP's... Can devil cast out devil?

Those who are against the withdrawal of police escorts are those who have been using them to terrorise their constituents.

The time for accountability is now

DaddyJapan:
Source: https://saharareporters.com/2025/12/22/exclusive-tinubus-vip-police-withdrawal-directive-fails-officers-disguise-vigilantes-and

In Portharcourt, they don't disguise oo.

They are still doing their normal escort duties even this past Saturday I sighted some in town

The resistance is expected. The system is fighting back.

Brendaniel:
An Oluwole president instructed his illegal IGP to stop illegal protection of VIP's... Can devil cast out devil?

Only u can tell us, if it has been successfully cast out of u?

This is a serious security matter. The police should deal decisively with this internal sabotage.

Laugh wan finish me. Ebola no no wetin dey happen

Nigerians police and hungry oo

The Nigerian police that I know cannot sufficiently obey that order.
Tinubu and the integrity challenged IGP should stop deceiving themselves.

Salewa97:
Those who are against the withdrawal of police escorts are those who have been using them to terrorise their constituents.

The time for accountability is now

Can Ebola hold them accountable? Devil cannot cast out devil shaa

ebukal67x:
The withdrawal order was a good move. But implementing it should have been done after the police had been sufficiently beefed up.

No be Nigeria again? These politicians will always find an alternative means of blocking the directive. Tinubu sef should know this. They dont joke with their lives. Na the masses get problem

He use the IG as scapegoat their head go correct. Fire him!

Them must find way naija and wahalaa

Dogalmighty17:
I have seen a number of them wearing their normal uniforms and still guarding VIPs. I don't think this policy is being implemented in anyway. The president just wasted his time.

Money must be made, I don't blame those policemen, that's where they see money so it will be hard for them to stop.

We told them that it won't work. Nigerians will frustrate God Himself if He comes down to earth.

The kind of money the Police hierarchy makes from this VIP Police Escorts is humongous. So, humongous that they can just let go.

The Rank and File too want in on the action from the handouts and freebies they enjoy.

The Politicians and VIPs also don't want to let go of the aura and prestige of being guarded at functions and parties brings.

We remain where we are with the issues starring us all in the face.

DaddyJapan:
Source: https://saharareporters.com/2025/12/22/exclusive-tinubus-vip-police-withdrawal-directive-fails-officers-disguise-vigilantes-and

tinubu is a foolish man.let him withdraw seyi own first.in this Nigeria,the day we chose to live by example is the day we fix the country.

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They knew that it would fail just like dismantling checkpoints. Everyone including the officers know that they are on their own as long as Nigeria is concerned.

/

I said this at the beginning that it will never work,its not about the president giving the order,its about the police heads and sectional heads carrying out the directive,just last week Saturday me came back from my travel some "blue beret" police men are still following one Eze in my area,while some green beret police are also stationed in his home,The police are the most corrupt just like Falz said "all of us naw thief naw who dem catch be ole"

Just visit shell yard in Rumumasi, Rivers State and you will be shocked at the number of police officers manning the place. The first time I visited there, I was shocked to my bone marrow. It's as if the Rivers state CP deployed the best police officers to that shell yard. Meanwhile, the larger society is under policed.

Definitely the old system will fight back!
But as the day goes by the resistance will wane off!

Dogalmighty17:
I have seen a number of them wearing their normal uniforms and still guarding VIPs. I don't think this policy is being implemented in anyway. The president just wasted his time.

i told them.

____
11 more characters needed.

Brendaniel:
An Oluwole president instructed... Can devil cast out devil?

Yes, under special arrangements they can caste out each other.

Oluwole presido and illegal IGP, the two devils can caste since they are both......make i no talk before this y@riba mode will ban me and delete my commentum

Hahahahahah no be lie, saw it last week. They no longer use Hilux any more, they use normal prado following vip.

We Nigerians are our own problem

Private security money is sweet

Just imagine o. This country sha 😂😂😂