The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has ordered the immediate arrest of any police officer found providing unauthorized security escort to Very Important Persons (VIPs), following a new directive issued by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

A confidential wireless message, dated November 30, 2025, and signed by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, was circulated to all police formations and specialized units, including the Mobile Police Force, VIP Protection Unit, Counter-Terrorism Unit, and all state and area commands.

The memo, as reported by Sahara Reporters, stated that any officer caught escorting a VIP outside officially approved duties must be arrested on the spot. It also warned that supervising officers who fail to enforce the directive will face disciplinary measures.

“Following the presidential directive… arrest any police officer found escorting any VIP in AOR yours. Disciplinary actions will also be activated against any erring supervising officer,” the signal read in part.

To ensure strict compliance, enforcement has been assigned exclusively to the Compol X-Squad and the IGP Monitoring Unit (IGPMU), which are expected to monitor officers across all commands.

The development follows President Tinubu’s order on November 23, 2025, directing the immediate withdrawal and redeployment of police personnel from VIP protection duties. The President, during a high-level security meeting in Abuja, emphasized the need to free up more officers for core policing responsibilities.

The meeting was attended by key security chiefs, including the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Waidi Shaibu; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke; Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Tosin Adeola Ajayi.

The police memo was marked “very important,” underscoring the urgency and finality of the instruction, which is expected to take immediate effect nationwide.