Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun has said the Nigeria Police Force cannot completely withdraw officers assigned to protect Very Important Personalities (VIPs) and certain private individuals, arguing that some categories of people require security cover.
Speaking in Abuja on Thursday, September 11, 2025, during a meeting with Border Patrol Squadron Commanders, Egbetokun explained that while efforts are being made to reduce misuse of police escorts, critical figures in government and industry still need official protection.
“We cannot do away entirely with protecting our VIPs. These are employers of labour, owners of industries who pay thousands of workers, and top government functionaries. The ones we are withdrawing officers from are those who used deception to get our men,” he said.
The IGP acknowledged that the force’s manpower remains overstretched, with many officers deployed to VIPs instead of performing strategic duties such as border security.
He described Nigeria’s land boundaries, spanning over 4,000 kilometres, alongside its extensive maritime corridors, as “vast and complex,” and highlighted the risks posed by porous borders.
“Our borders are Nigeria’s doors. If they are weak, every danger walks in freely. If they are strong, our children can sleep soundly,” he said, urging commanders to see themselves as guardians of the nation’s frontiers.
Citing the 2024 interception of a container from Turkey carrying more than 800 rifles and 100,000 rounds of ammunition, Egbetokun warned that arms smuggling, contraband trade, human trafficking, and infiltration by terrorists remain pressing security challenges.
He stressed the importance of inter-agency collaboration, saying the police must work closely with the Nigeria Customs Service, Immigration, Armed Forces, and other partners.
He also emphasised that criminals are adopting advanced methods, including drones, forged documents, and encrypted networks.
“We cannot fight 21st-century crime with 20th-century tools. Technology—surveillance systems, drones, biometric scanners, and data analysis—are necessities, not luxuries,” he said.