Anambra CP Condemns VIP Security Escorts Masking Faces

Anambra State police commissioner, CP Ikioye Orutugu, has expressed concern over the growing trend of some security operatives concealing their identities while providing protection to Very Important Personalities (VIPs) within the state.

In a statement issued on his behalf by the state police command’s spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, Orutugu said while security duties often require tactical discretion, he said the act of masking identities without proper authorisation raises serious security concerns.

Such practices, he observed, not only pose a potential threat to public safety but also undermine trust, accountability, and the integrity of inter-agency collaboration.

Orutugu emphasised that identifiable security personnel remains a critical component of coordinated security operations, especially in an environment that demands synergy among various agencies.

The use of masks by operatives, particularly in non-operational or public-facing assignments such as VIP protection, he insisted “makes it difficult to verify legitimacy and could be exploited by criminal elements to perpetrate unlawful acts under the guise of security duties.

“The CP therefore, calls on all security agencies operating within the State to ensure that their personnel are properly identified at all times while on routine or protective duties, except in clearly defined tactical operations sanctioned by appropriate authorities” the state police command’s image maker’s statement reads.

He assured that the State Police Command remained dedicated to upholding professionalism, accountability, and public trust in the discharge of its constitutional responsibilities.