Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector General of Police (IG), has been told to withdraw policemen serving as escorts to Very Important Persons to strengthened security across Nigeria.
Prior to this conversation, there were worries raised regarding the nation’s inadequate police force, which is below the ratio advised by the UN.
With Nigeria’s police force numbering just over 370,000, the current ratio is approximately one police officer to every 600 citizens, highlighting a significant shortfall in the face of mounting security challenges.
In June 2023, during a conference with police tactical commanders in Abuja, the IGP ordered the withdrawal of Police Mobile Force personnel from VIP escort and guard duties.
However, this directive did not extend to other police personnel, such as constables and inspectors, who continue to be allocated to VIPs.
Speaking in an interview on Saturday, Chief Asukewe Iko-Awaji, a former National Vice Chairman of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party and member of the Rivers Elders’ Council, lambasted this practice.
He proclaimed that it undermined the police force’s ability to effectively combat crime.
“I was going somewhere and saw a local government chairman with 10 policemen at his gate. Governors, senators, and House of Representatives members will take their share too. These are the police who should protect the people who voted for them.
“Withdraw all the police guarding politicians and let them come back and do their work. The provision that establishes the Nigerian police did not say they should leave the people to guard a few.”
Supporting Iko-Awaji’s view, Col. Yomi Dare, a security expert, advocated a reduction in the number of policemen serving as VIP escorts.
He said, “Look at a situation where you have up to 12 policemen escorting one VIP. If you go to his house, he probably has another number of policemen there.”
