Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun has confirmed the withdrawal of 11,566 police officers previously assigned to VIPs and special beats across the country, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive issued on November 23, 2025.
Gatekeepers News reports that speaking to journalists in Abuja on Thursday, Egbetokun said the officers have now been redeployed to active policing duties nationwide, describing the move as a renewed effort to strengthen frontline security and not a retreat from responsibility.
He dismissed viral reports alleging that more than 120,000 officers were attached to private individuals, insisting the figures were inaccurate.
“These claims are lies. How many police officers do we even have in Nigeria? The presidential directive revealed that 11,566 officers are currently engaged in such duties,” the IGP said.
Egbetokun acknowledged that similar withdrawal directives had been issued in previous years but noted that the President’s current backing guarantees full enforcement.
“No governor, no friend, no family member will pressure me again. It is a presidential directive,” he stressed.
The IGP said redeploying over 11,000 officers back to the field would significantly boost operational strength at a time the Force is battling manpower shortages.
He assured that personnel welfare “will remain a priority,” especially for those serving in rural and high-risk areas.
According to him, the latest directive is expected to increase police visibility, enhance response to emerging threats, and ensure officers are strategically deployed to critical locations where their presence is most needed.
He also warned against misinformation and attempts to politicise the mandate, noting that official guidelines would be communicated through proper channels.
Providing an update on recent operations, Egbetokun said police commands nationwide have recorded major breakthroughs since the last briefing. These include the arrest of 822 suspects for crimes such as robbery, kidnapping, and homicide.
Recovered exhibits include 249 firearms, 20,989 rounds of ammunition, and 38 vehicles, while 232 kidnapped victims were rescued.
Ahead of the festive season, he said the police expect increased travel and a potential rise in criminal activity. As a result, a nationwide deployment plan has been activated, involving reinforced highway patrols, intelligence-led operations, surveillance drones, and joint security efforts across major highways and border routes.
On school safety, Egbetokun said the School Protection Squad “remains active” and has successfully prevented several attacks despite recent incidents.
“One attack is bad enough. We will not rest until every vulnerable community is protected,” he said.
The IGP urged Nigerians to recognise the constant arrests and weapons recoveries made by the police daily. He also ordered a thorough investigation into the recent school-related security breach, reaffirming that the Force has not abandoned its duty to protect vulnerable groups.
