There is a growing fear among very important persons(VIPs) in Nigeria following the directives by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, should start the process of withdrawing police escorts currently providing security for them.
Recall that Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, said in a statement on Sunday that, henceforth, police authorities would deploy them to concentrate on their core police duties, adding that VIPs who needed police protection would now request well-armed personnel from the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC.
After the announcement, some sources within the police revealed that the affected VIPs had been bombarding the police headquarters with calls seeking more clarification over the development and expressing fears, based on the prevailing security situation in the country.
The sources further said that their major concern is the ability of the NSCDC personnel to adequately protect them. One of them was quoted as saying it would be very difficult for personnel of the civil defence corps to render the services they require because of their training and equipment.
“He told us that it will be like engaging boys scouts to protect them as the mobile policemen they normally engage are more agile and battle-ready to confront any situation,” a source said.
Another affected VIP in an interview with Vanguard said, “The practice of providing police escorts to high-ranking officers and VIPs has become a major feature of the security landscape in Nigeria but it must be noted that as the country grapples with growing security concerns, the use of police personnel for VIP protection has raised significant questions about its broader implications on public safety and the overall effectiveness of the police force.”
He urged the government to rationalise the exercise instead of cancelling it, saying it would increase the fears of insecurity in the country.
The justification behind this practice often rests on the high-profile nature of individuals involved, the perceived threat to their safety, and the desire to project power and influence. ‘’While these measures are meant to offer security for influential figures, the broader implication is that they come at a high cost to the public, both in terms of the security resources diverted and the moral perception of a system that favours the few over the many,’’ he said.
The officer further disclosed that the growing demand for VIP protection significantly impacted the distribution of resources across the force.
“Police patrol teams in certain areas are often understaffed, and response times to distress calls are prolonged as a result of the overwhelming number of officers assigned to VIP duties. In some cases, police officers are redirected from high-crime areas to provide convoy escorts, leaving already vulnerable communities to fend for themselves,’’ he added.
A source at the Force’s headquarters in Abuja said, “we have several cases where a unit is deployed for an entire day to protect a governor or a businessman, and that leaves their assigned zones with fewer officers to patrol. ‘’It is a major logistical challenge, and it undermines the overall effectiveness of policing.”
Reacting to the development, Tony Udemmadu said, “The most concerning aspect of VIP police escorts is their potential to undermine public trust in law enforcement. The Nigerian public increasingly perceives the practice as a symbol of inequality. ‘’While the elite enjoy protection and attention from the police, ordinary Nigerians often find themselves facing mounting insecurity without sufficient resources or support from the police.
“In regions plagued by violent crimes, such as the Niger Delta or the Northeast, the absence of visible police presence due to escort assignments exacerbates the already precarious situation for citizens.”
When Vanguard reached out to the Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, over the number of police personnel involved, modalities for the withdrawal and the date of take off, he promised to get back, but as of the time of writing this, he has yet to do so.
There have been calls for the withdrawal of the policemen attached to VIPs in the country following the security issues Nigeria has been grappling with in recent years. However, some sections of Nigerians believe that the President’s directive will not be followed through.