Bold statement: Police protection for government officials will keep going—until a new directive from President Tinubu says otherwise.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, clarified on Channels Television’s Politics Today that while the presidential order to withdraw police officers from VIPs is being fully implemented, certain officials are legally entitled to protection and will continue to receive it pending new presidential guidance. He emphasized the directive’s decisiveness and denied any influence from money or bidding in the enforcement, stating that it is about withdrawing officers from VIP protection, period.
Hundeyin indicated that protection for some officials remains automatic by law, giving examples such as governors and judges, though he did not provide a full list. He noted that the precaution will persist for those statutorily entitled until further directives from the Presidency are issued, while others without such entitlements may have had their protection withdrawn.
Additionally, he addressed concerns about police personnel performing non-official tasks in private homes, pointing out that the Inspector General had already taken steps to curb this practice even before the presidential order.
During the same briefing, Hundeyin contested EU figures suggesting about 100,000 police officers were deployed to shield politicians and influential figures. He argued the EU assessment did not align with the scope used by the Nigerian Police, asserting the official withdrawal number stands at 11,000 officers previously attached to VIPs. He reaffirmed that the exact number of personnel retained for statutorily entitled officials will depend on clearer presidential directives.
Context: President Tinubu reportedly directed the withdrawal of VIP security personnel and ordered redeployment to core policing functions after a security meeting with service chiefs and the DSS Director-General. Earlier statements from Police leadership indicated that 11,566 officers withdrawn from VIP duties had already been redeployed.
Contemplation for readers: If the policy is meant to strengthen core policing, how might this reallocation affect public safety and the protection of high-ranking officials? Do you think the set of officials entitled to ongoing protection should be broader or narrower? Share your views on whether such protections should be standardized nationwide or customized by circumstance.
