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The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has said that the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has recalled 11,566 personnel attached to private citizens across the country.
IGP Egbetokun, who made this known, while speaking at a meeting with strategic police officers, Thursday at the Force Headquarters,Abuja,
said the personnel were withdrawn from the VIPs following the order by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Sunday.
“In line with the President’s directive, we have withdrawn a total of 11,566ìì personnel from VIP protection. These officers are being redeployed toĺ critical policing duties immediately.
“…It is important to emphasise that this action is a patriotic, forward-looking, and operationally prudent measure designed to strengthen our manpower capacity for critical frontline policing functions.
“With the security environment placing increasing pressure on unprotected populations and vulnerable communities, and in this regard, we wish to assure members of the public that this withdrawal will enable the Force to expand deployment into areas where policing input has the most meaningful public safety outcomes,” the IGP said.
The Police boss explained that the officers would be redeployed to various states of the federation to beef up security; adding that the withdrawal would be done in phases.
“This phased approach is necessary to prevent opportunistic actors from weaponising ambiguity, spreading disinformation, or impersonating authority in ways that could distort or compromise the intent of thisi initiative.
“We are committed to ensuring that this process strengthens policing, preserves institutional integrity, and eliminates any window for actors who operate outside legitimate security frameworks to mislead or cash in on the transition.”
The Police boss noted that the recent security incidents, including abductions in Kwara, Kebbi, and Niger states, have reinforced the need to reposition the force and strengthen visibility and deterrence across the country.
Speaking further, IGP Egbetokun disclosed that, “The Nigeria Police Force has achieved multiple operational outcomes across strategic formations and tactical response structures, including a total of 8,202 suspects who were arrested for various offences.”
He said 451 of the suspects were arrested for armed robbery, 356 for kidnapping, 534 for murder, 129 for murder with culpable homicide, 173 for unlawful possession of firearms, 312 for rape, 282 for cultism, and 6,095 were arrested for other serious offences.
This is as 232 kidnapped victims were rescued across the country, 249 firearms, and 21,000 rounds of ammunition were also recovered as well as 238 vehicles.
The Police boss, who assured that the NPF was adopting stronger intelligence frameworks, deeper community engagement, and enhanced inter-agency collaboration to outmanoeuvre criminals, ordered state command to activate festive deployment and visibility plans as the Yuletide season approaches.iiu
“As we approach the festive season, the nation will witness its highest annual travel status. Citizens returning home to celebrate with family and communities. Criminals will seek to exploit the road. Therefore, the roads must be decisively dominated by visibility policing and preparednessoʻ
“…This will include expanded highway patrol teams, reinforced foot patrol units at motor parks, anti-robbery dragnet patrols on high traffic roads, intelligence-backed vehicular patrol fleets for rural corridors, and inter-service collaboration patrols to guarantee route safety across all national highways.
“This will include further access routes, township entry-exit routes, market transit beds, and community travel corridors. Employ the use of artificial intelligence in your policing strategies, including the use of drones and other technical assets,” the IGP charged.
