The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) has launched a sweeping nationwide enforcement campaign after Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun ordered the immediate arrest of any officer found escorting VIPs without official approval.

The directive, issued through a confidential wireless message dated November 30, 2025, follows a recent presidential instruction mandating the withdrawal of police personnel from VIP security duties so they can return to core policing functions.

According to reports, the internal memo—circulated to senior officers across all police formations—stressed that the order must be treated as urgent, final, and non-negotiable.

What the Memo Said

The message, addressed to units such as the Mobile Police Force, VIP Protection Unit, Counter-Terrorism Force, and all state and area commands, was explicit:

“Following the presidential directive to withdraw, all states to arrest any police officer found escorting any VIP in AOR yours. Disciplinary actions will also be activated against any erring supervising officer.”

The IGP also ordered that enforcement be handled strictly by Commissioners of Police X-Squad Units and the Inspector General’s Monitoring Unit (IGPMU) to ensure thorough monitoring and full compliance.

The memo was boldly marked “very important”, signalling that no further reminders or clarifications would follow.

Why the Order Was Issued

The development stems from a directive given by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on November 23, 2025, during a high-level security meeting in Abuja. The President ordered the immediate withdrawal and redeployment of police officers from VIP protection roles, insisting that they be reassigned to their primary law-enforcement duties.

The meeting was attended by top security chiefs, including:

Lt. General Waidi Shaibu, Chief of Army Staff

Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, Chief of Air Staff

Kayode Egbetokun, Inspector General of Police

Tosin Adeola Ajayi, Director-General of the DSS

A Major Shift in Policing

The move reflects a government effort to address manpower shortages in mainstream policing and reduce the long-criticized culture of assigning officers to politicians, businessmen, and other influential individuals.

With the latest order, both officers and their supervising heads now face immediate arrest and disciplinary action if found violating the new directive.

Security analysts say the coming weeks will reveal how effectively the policy is enforced across the states.