Security sources said the officers were apprehended by military personnel after allegedly flouting the presidential order withdrawing police personnel from VIP escort assignments.
The military has arrested four police officers for allegedly providing unauthorised escort services to a VIP, in violation of President Bola Tinubu’s directive withdrawing policemen from VIP protection duties.
Police sources told counterinsurgency analyst and counterterrorism expert Zagazola Makama that the arrest took place on December 17 at about 9:30 a.m. while the officers were reportedly on escort duty.
Those arrested were identified as ASP Musa Waziri and Inspector Jeremiah Achimogu, both attached to the 45 Police Mobile Force (PMF), Abuja; Inspector Awipi Terry of 21 PMF; and Inspector Hassan Baba of 50 PMF, Abuja.
Security sources said the officers were apprehended by military personnel after allegedly flouting the presidential order withdrawing police personnel from VIP escort assignments.
The sources further disclosed that the policemen were dressed in uniforms resembling those of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), allegedly in an attempt to evade detection and mislead enforcement personnel.
The arrested officers have since been detained, while disciplinary procedures have reportedly been initiated against them in line with existing regulations.
SaharaReporters had exclusively reported how the directive by the Nigeria Police Force to withdraw officers attached to private individuals and VIPs was widely undermined, with officers reportedly returning to duty through disguises, bribery, and administrative manipulation, credible sources have told SaharaReporters.
According to the sources, some police officers affected by the withdrawal order have resorted to wearing uniforms of vigilante groups and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to evade detection, while continuing their duties as before.
As part of the recent directive by President Bola Tinubu to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to withdraw all police personnel from non-essential VIP protection duties, officers were instructed to return to their base and return their service rifles for redeployment to core policing roles.
However, SaharaReporters learnt that the same weapons had been reissued to the personnel after the payment of as much as ₦500,000. Afterward, the officers reportedly resumed duty under informal arrangements.
“Police officers are now disguising themselves in vigilante and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps uniforms to evade the so-called withdrawal order,” one of the police sources said.
“Each officer was instructed to return their service rifle, only to have the same weapon reissued after paying ₦500,000. They then resumed duty as usual.”
Sources also disclosed that several police guards have adopted alternative disguises, including wearing corporate suits and operating as private drivers for VIPs, while still providing armed protection.
According to the sources, the majority of affected officers have already returned to work despite the withdrawal directive.
“Some police guards now wear suits and operate as private drivers for VIPs. Most officers have already returned to work,” the source said.
Although the Inspector-General of Police constituted a monitoring team to enforce compliance, sources claimed that the enforcement exercise was largely symbolic.
“The team arrested a few officers for show and they were immediately released,” one of the sources said.
The sources described the withdrawal policy as ineffective, arguing that it has not led to any meaningful reduction in the deployment of police officers to private individuals.