PRESIDENT TINUBU REAFFIRMS ORDER WITHDRAWING POLICE ESCORTS FROM VERY IMPORTANT PERSONS

President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his directive ordering the withdrawal of police escorts from Very Important Persons (VIPs) and returning them to core policing duties, citing rising cases of kidnapping nationwide. The president at Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja, expressed frustration over the slow pace of compliance and instructed VIPs with special security needs to seek clearance through the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
President Tinubu directed the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to work with the IGP and the Civil Defence Corps to immediately replace withdrawn police escorts, He also tasked the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Department of State Services (DSS) to provide further guidance and ensure the directive is fully implemented, alongside strengthening forest guards.
The President also charged Vice-President Kashim Shettima through the National Economic Council to rehabilitate grazing reserves into ranches as part of broader livestock reforms aimed at reducing farmer–herder conflicts.
The new directive follows the President’s order withdrawing police details from VIPs after mass abductions in Kebbi, Kwara and Niger States. The renewed push came as Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka raised concerns over the excessive security entourage assigned to the President’s son, Seyi Tinubu.