IGP Withdraws Presidential Escort Officers, Orders Nationwide Redeployment
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) has approved the immediate withdrawal of officers attached to the No. 24 Police Mobile Force (PMF) Presidential Escort at the State House, Abuja, directing them to return to their respective state commands across the country.
The directive was conveyed in a police signal dated December 16, 2025, issued by the Department of Finance and Administration (Welfare) at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
According to the signal, senior police officers and formations were instructed to effect the redeployment without delay. The message was addressed to the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, Assistant Inspectors-General overseeing the Police Mobile Force and zonal commands, as well as Commissioners of Police nationwide.
It confirmed that the officers affected were those deployed on close protection duties at the Presidential Villa. Under the new posting arrangement, they have been redeployed to their home states and other commands.
Copies of the signal were forwarded to the Chief Personal Security Officer to the President, the Commander of No. 24 PMF, Abuja, and police commands in several state capitals and major cities.
The redeployment follows an earlier directive by President Bola Tinubu in November, ordering the withdrawal of police officers from VIP escort and guard duties as part of broader security sector reforms.
Under the exercise, 13 officers were redeployed to Adamawa; 18 to Kebbi; 14 to Kaduna; seven to Anambra; two to Akwa Ibom; 12 to Bauchi; nine to Benue; eight to Borno; and four to Bayelsa. One officer was posted to Cross River.
Nine officers were redeployed to Ebonyi; 10 to Ekiti; nine to Enugu; and 22 to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Twelve officers were posted to Gombe.
Other postings include Imo (eight officers), Jigawa (16), Kogi (16), Kano (16), Katsina (21), Kwara (16), Nasarawa (15), Niger (20), Ondo (six), Osun (six), Plateau (19), Sokoto (18), Taraba (19), and Yobe (15).
Meanwhile, Zone 1, Kano, received two officers; Zone 3, Yola, one officer; while Zone 7, Abuja, had six officers redeployed.
Police authorities said the redeployment was in line with ongoing efforts to rationalise personnel deployment and strengthen policing at the state and zonal levels.
EDITOR
Sam Udekwe is a journalist working in the News and Current Affairs department, Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS) Enugu. He is well trained in all genres of journalistic venture.
Mr Sam read Mass Communication, graduating all with Distinction in National Diploma, Higher National Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma at IMT, Enugu and Madonna University, Okija, Anambra state, as well as M.Sc Mass Communication with Second Class(Upper Division) at National Open University of Nigeria.
He is the immediate past NUJ Chairman, Enugu state.
samowailo@gmail.com
