The Nigerian Army has detained four police officers for reportedly violating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to withdraw police personnel from VIP escort duties.
The arrests, which took place on December 17, 2025, at about 9:30 a.m., were carried out by military personnel after the officers allegedly continued performing unauthorised escort services for a VIP, in direct contravention of the presidential order issued earlier this year.
The four police officers were identified as: ASP Musa Waziri and Inspector Jeremiah Achimogu, both attached to the 45 Police Mobile Force (PMF), Abuja; Inspector Awipi Terry of the 21 PMF; and Inspector Hassan Baba of the 50 PMF, Abuja.
According to security sources, the officers were apprehended while on unauthorised escort duty, a role that has been expressly removed from police responsibilities under the presidential directive.
The directive in question, issued by President Tinubu earlier in 2025, instructed the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to withdraw all police personnel assigned to VIP protection and non-core duties, with the explicit aim of refocusing the force on crime-fighting and community policing roles.
Despite the widely publicised order, the arrested officers were said to be attached to a VIP for protection duties, a clear breach of the withdrawal policy. Security sources told Sahara Reporters that the arrests occurred in the Federal Capital Territory when military personnel intercepted them during the assignment.
Officials further disclosed that some police officers affected by the withdrawal order have attempted to circumvent enforcement measures. In some cases, officers allegedly resorted to disguising themselves in uniforms similar to those of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in a bid to evade detection and continue protection services for VIPs and private individuals.
One police source stated, “Police officers are now disguising themselves in vigilante and NSCDC uniforms to evade the so-called withdrawal order.”
The same sources revealed that, despite the directive to return service rifles for redeployment, some officers reportedly had their weapons reissued after allegedly paying as much as ₦500,000, allowing them to resume their previous duties informally.
Since their detention, the four arrested officers have remained in military custody, with disciplinary procedures initiated against them, according to the report. The authorities have reportedly begun internal investigations to ensure compliance with the presidential order and to deter other officers from similar actions.
Despite the formation of a monitoring team by the IGP to enforce compliance with the withdrawal directive, sources familiar with the situation described the enforcement effort as largely symbolic, with minimal impact on reducing police involvement in private security roles.
One insider commented that some officers who were initially detained were reportedly released shortly after their arrest, raising concerns about the overall effectiveness of the implementation efforts.
