The Nigeria Police Force has strongly disowned a widely circulated internal memo which claimed that police officers attached to several high‑profile Nigerians, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and former First Lady Aisha Buhari, had been ordered to return to base.
The document, purportedly issued by the Nigeria Police Mobile Force, 50 Squadron in Kubwa, Abuja, directed all officers on the VIP details to report back to the squadron headquarters by 2 p.m. on Thursday, November 27, 2025. It bore reference number AB: 4087/FCT/50PMF/VOL.10/ and was signed in the name of “CSP Suleiman Abdullahi, Administrative Officer,” allegedly on the instruction of the Squadron Commander.
According to the memo, the order covered officers attached to 20 Very Important Persons, among them former Vice Presidents Atiku Abubakar and Namadi Sambo, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, former First Lady Aisha Buhari, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Olatokunbo Kekere‑Ekun, and the Olu of Warri, His Royal Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III.
Other names listed included the “Chief Justice of Nigeria”; the Minister of State for Labour; Senator Tanko Al‑Makura; APC Women Leader; Alhaji Kamba; Hon. Ngozi Iweala; Senator Ahmed Lawal; Hon. Khalifa Abdul; Hon. Yusuf Gagdi; Dr. Ramatu Tijjani; Hon. Vetra; Hon. Moses Ternege; the Managing Director of Barelco; Engineer Okeke; and Hon. Ibrahim Massari.
But in a statement on Friday, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, categorically dismissed the memo as fake and warned the public to disregard it. “The Force wishes to categorically state that this document, allegedly signed by one CSP Suleiman Abdullahi, described as the Admin Officer of the squadron, is fake and should be disregarded by the public,” he said. Hundeyin stressed that “there is no officer by the name CSP Suleiman Abdullahi serving in 50 PMF Squadron, nor is the position of Admin Officer in any PMF squadron held by an officer of the rank of Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP). This fabrication appears to be a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and create unnecessary confusion.”
He, however, confirmed that the Nigeria Police Force has begun implementing President Bola Tinubu’s directive on the withdrawal of police personnel from VIP protection duties. “For emphasis, the Nigeria Police Force confirms that the implementation of the Presidential Directive on the withdrawal of police officers from VIP duties has indeed commenced,” the statement noted. Hundeyin added that the process “is being carried out in a structured, phased, and professional manner to ensure that no security vacuum is created that could be exploited by criminal elements. Our priority remains the safety and security of all Nigerians, and measures have been put in place to ensure absolute maintenance of law and order throughout the transition period.”
Urging citizens to rely on official communication, the police spokesman warned against sharing unverified documents capable of undermining public trust. “The public is urged to rely on official channels for accurate information and to refrain from sharing unverified documents that could undermine public confidence. The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to transparency, accountability, and the protection of lives and property at all times,” Hundeyin said.
