Military Arrests 4 Policemen Over Illegal VIP Escort Duty

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 police personnel from VIP protection duties.

The arrest was disclosed by a counter-terrorism and security expert, Zagazola Makama, on his official X handle on Tuesday.

Citing Police sources, Makama said the officers were apprehended on December 17 at about 9:30 a.m. while reportedly on escort duty.

Makama identified the arrested personnel as Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Musa Waziri and Inspector Jeremiah Achimogu, both attached to 45 Police Mobile Force (PMF), Abuja; including Inspector Awipi Terry of 21 PMF; and Inspector Hassan Baba of 50 PMF, Abuja.

According to security sources, the officers were arrested by military personnel after allegedly flouting the presidential order mandating the withdrawal of police personnel from unauthorised VIP escort duties.

The sources further revealed that the policemen were dressed in uniforms resembling those of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), purportedly in an attempt to evade detection and deceive enforcement personnel.

According to Makama, the arrested officers have since been detained, while disciplinary procedures have reportedly been initiated against them in line with extant regulations.

LEADERSHIP reports President Tinubu had earlier directed the immediate withdrawal of police personnel from unauthorised VIP protection assignments.

The president stressed the need to redeploy manpower to core policing responsibilities and internal security operations across the country.