Nigeria Police Warn Officers Against Escorting VIPs In Mufti, Threaten Disciplinary Action
By: Abudu Olalekan
The Nigeria Police High Command has issued a stern warning to officers regarding Nigeria Police VIP escort duties. Wearing mufti is now a punishable offense.
It is a common sight on Nigerian roads. A black SUV zooms past, sirens blaring, and inside or in a pickup truck behind, you see men with heavy guns. But they are not wearing uniforms. They are in jeans, polo shirts, or sometimes even native attire. You get confused. Are these policemen? Or are they thugs?
Well, the Nigeria Police Force is tired of this confusion.
The Police High Command has officially lost patience. They are angry. According to fresh information reaching Reportersroom, the authorities have expressed deep concern over this trend. Despite repeated instructions in the past, some officers are still stubborn. They continue to follow VIPs in mufti. This is a direct violation of the operational guidelines of the Special Protection Unit (SPU).
It is risky. It is unprofessional. And now, it is punishable.
The warning was contained in a very serious wireless message. It was dispatched from the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Protection, Force Headquarters, Abuja (AIG PROTECT FHQ). The message went out to all Police Protection Units across the country. No command was left out.
The signal, which carries the reference number CB: 4001/DOPS/SPU/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.20, is not a joke. It reiterated an earlier order from the Inspector General of Police himself. The order is clear: withdraw personnel from unauthorized VIP escorts. And for those who are authorized, wearing plain clothes is banned.
The message from the High Command noted that officers are disregarding standing orders.
“It has been observed that men still follow VIPs in mufti in disregard to this order. Officers and men are to desist henceforth as anybody caught will be dealt with accordingly,” the directive stated.
Short and sharp.
If you are caught, you are on your own. That is the interpretation. The signal was copied to key police formations nationwide. We are talking about commands in Kano, Lagos, Yola, Makurdi, Benin, and Port Harcourt. Also included were Abuja, Sokoto, Bauchi, Abeokuta, Akure, Awka, Enugu, Ibadan, Minna, Calabar, Asaba, Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom, Owerri, and Kaduna.
Every unit commander has been instructed to acknowledge receipt. They must treat the order as urgent and important. No excuses will be tolerated.
This crackdown is not coming from nowhere. It is part of a bigger picture.
Reportersroom reported on November 23 that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has shaken the table. He directed that police officers assigned to provide security for VIPs across the country should be withdrawn. He wants them back on the streets. He wants them to focus on their core policing responsibilities. Protecting the masses, not just the big men.
This presidential directive was issued during a high-stakes security meeting on Sunday in Abuja. The room was full of top officials. The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Waidi Shaibu was there. The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke was present. The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Tosin Adeola Ajayi, were also in attendance.
The President was clear. The police needs to police the country.
So, what happens to the VIPs? Under the new arrangement, any VIP seeking protection will have to look elsewhere. They are now required to request well-armed personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). The police is stepping back.
Following this order, the Nigerian police authorities have begun running up and down to make internal adjustments. It is a scramble.
On Wednesday, Reportersroom obtained a memo that showed just how serious this is. The memo was signed by the Commanding Officer of SPU Base 16 in Lagos, Neji Veronica. It instructed all officers to return to base immediately. They were told to report back before the close of business on November 24.
The memo read: “Sequel to the directive of Mr President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces on the withdrawal of police personnel attached to VIPs, the Commanding Officer directs, with immediate effect, the withdrawal of all personnel of SPU Base 16 attached to VIPs/Beats across the federation back to base.”
The tone was urgent. There was no room for debate.
Reinforcing the seriousness, the memo added, “You are all warned to report back before the end of today, Monday, 24/11/2025, and all to attend the lecture parade tomorrow. Attendance shall be taken from the nominal roll. This is for your information and strict compliance.”
The days of policemen acting as private bodyguards in plain clothes seems to be over. The message is out. The High Command is watching. Whether the officers will fully comply or find new ways to bend the rules remains to be seen. But for now, the warning bell has been rung loud and clear. Desist henceforth, or face the music.
