Olushola Omogbehin
Sequel to the recent withdrawal of 11,566 policemen from VIPs by the Federal Government, many Nigerians who fall into this category of people have expressed their readiness to engage the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for orderlies and escorts.
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun disclosed this in Abuja while addressing journalists.
He said the recall of police from VIP duties was not for political reason or any attempt to punish anybody but was meant to readdress policing to focus on communities ravaged by insurgency.
“In line with the President’s directive, we have withdrawn a total of 11,566 personnel from VIP protection. These officers are being redeployed to critical policing duties immediately,” he said.
Stating that reallocation will give strength to rural and township security, improve intelligence-led operations and boost rapid response capacity, he warned that the implementation must be protected against abuse by criminals.
PUNCH reports that several political bigwigs including former SDP presidential candidate Prince Adewole Adebayo and suspended PDP National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, were among VIPs whose police details were abruptly recalled.
The report stated that at a high-profile meeting in the Central Business District on Thursday morning, the former SDP standard-bearer was spotted flanked by NSCDC personnel alongside armed private guards who dressed in black.
Speaking with PUNCH in a phone interview on Thursday, Anyanwu, who expressed support for the policy admitted that his police orderlies had also been withdrawn. He however urged the government to prioritise “elder statesmen and national officers of political parties.”
“I support their withdrawal. Nigeria as a government is lacking in terms of manpower in the police. The police officers who are engaged with the VIPs have also mismanaged that position.”
He further explained that he has applied to the NSCDC for manpower. “In fact, I even prefer them because they are well trained too.”
The ordered by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is part of the deliberate push to redirect overstretched security manpower to address the recent rise in kidnapping in many parts of Nigeria.
