The Nigeria Police Force has clarified that it has not withdrawn police escorts from VIPs who are legally and statutorily entitled to police escorts.
In a statement released on Thursday in the wake of reports that earlier suggested that the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, ordered that escorts be withdrawn from VIPs in the buildup to off-cycle elections, the police explained that withdrawing police escorts from VIPs would be unsafe and counterproductive.
The police explained that the objective of withdrawing security details from Nigerians who were not statutorily entitled to police escort was to reassign the personnel to the recently established Special Intervention Squad (SIS).
“First and foremost, let us be clear: at no point did the Force intend to strip VIPs (who are legally and statutorily entitled to Police escorts) of their security details. Doing so would be unsafe and counterproductive. Instead, the objective is to reassign the withdrawn PMF personnel to the recently established Special Intervention Squad (SIS),” a statement by the Nigeria Police read.
“For those who genuinely require specialized Police escorts, this vital service will continue to be provided by other units of the Force, such as the Special Protection Unit (SPU). However, individuals who do not fall within and enjoy the legal framework for such security details would strictly be screened and their applications thoroughly assessed for consideration, if necessary. To eliminate any misunderstandings, it’s crucial to clarify that the withdrawal of Police Mobile Force (PMF) personnel does not equate a blanket ban on all Police Officers from providing VIP escort services. This withdrawal pertains specifically to PMF personnel, who are just one unit within the broader Police Force,” it added.
