The Nigeria Police Force have said the Acting Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has never withdrawn police officers attached to important personalities in the country.
A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, clarified that the IGP only withdrew Police Mobile Force (PMF) personnel from certain important personalities.
According to Adejobi, the decision to withdraw the PMF personnel from escort and guard duties stands firm, and there will be no going back on this critical policy change.
However, there have been some misunderstandings regarding the directive of the IGP about withdrawing members of the PMF Unit from VIPs.
“First and foremost, let us be clear: at no point did the Force intend to strip VIPs (who are legally and statutorily entitled to police escorts) of their security details,” he emphasised.
Doing so, he opined, would be unsafe and counterproductive.
Instead, the force spokesman maintained that the objective is to reassign the withdrawn PMF personnel to the recently established Special Intervention Squad (SIS).
For those who genuinely require specialised police escorts, he said the service would be provided by other units of the force, such as the Special Protection Unit (SPU).
He added, however, individuals who do not fall within the legal framework for such security details would be screened and their applications thoroughly assessed.
“To eliminate any misunderstandings, it’s crucial to clarify that the withdrawal of Police Mobile Force (PMF) personnel does not equate to a blanket ban on all police officers from providing VIP escort services.
“This withdrawal pertains specifically to PMF personnel, who are just one unit within the broader Police Force,” he explained.
