—By Dr. John Egbo, Deputy Sheriff (rtd.), United States, Security Consultant
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!In the face of Nigeria’s worsening security challenges, it has become urgent to adopt smarter, more strategic policing that improves nationwide safety without exposing our leaders to unnecessary risks. Drawing from my years of law enforcement service in the United States and my experience as a security consultant, I am convinced that reducing the number of police officers attached to VIPs, rather than withdrawing them entirely, is the most balanced and effective approach at this critical time.
Nigeria’s police force is overstretched, communities are underserved, response time to distress calls remains poor, and yet hundreds of officers remain tied down daily in oversized VIP security details. The answer is not to strip VIPs of essential protection but to reorganize, trim and redeploy officers in a manner that strengthens national security while maintaining necessary safeguards for leaders who naturally attract threats due to their positions.
A well-managed reduction in officers attached to VIPs would release significant manpower for public patrols, rapid response operations, highway security and community policing. It would also preserve the safety of national leaders, ministers and other high-profile citizens, who remain valid targets for criminal or politically motivated attacks, while ensuring that ordinary Nigerians are better protected.
It is important to recognize that police escorts attached to VIPs often serve a dual and valuable purpose. Across various states, VIP convoys have unintentionally deterred armed robbers and bandits along major routes, with criminal elements frequently withdrawing upon sighting armed escorts. In several cases, VIP police teams have disrupted crimes in locations where nearby police stations were unable to respond promptly due to manpower shortages. Completely withdrawing such escorts would create gaps in security rather than solve the underlying problem.
The Inspector General of Police must therefore prioritize reduction, not total elimination. Sensitive locations such as vulnerable businesses, schools and critical infrastructure still require police protection, though with leaner and more efficient deployments. As a retired Deputy Sheriff, I can affirm that effective policing depends on threat assessment, intelligence and strategic deployment, not emotion or public pressure. With many parts of Nigeria now classified as high-risk zones, redeploying officers from bloated VIP units to these hotspots is both logical and vital.
Elected officials, including Ministers and Members of the National Assembly, should also be encouraged to spend more time within their constituencies, accompanied by reduced but well-coordinated police teams. Their presence on the ground strengthens leadership trust, improves community relationships and enhances grassroots intelligence gathering, all while ensuring they remain protected.
The President’s directive on massive police recruitment is commendable. However, the process must be closely guarded. Criminal infiltration, whether by bandits, extremists or sympathizers, poses a serious threat to police operations. Every recruit must be thoroughly vetted, screened and verified to prevent internal compromise, intelligence leaks and operational sabotage.
Nigeria needs a police force that is disciplined, professional, trustworthy and optimally deployed. Reducing excessive VIP protection while strengthening public security roles is not just a policy improvement, it is a national priority that will help restore public confidence and enhance safety across the country.
VIPs moving with a reduced number of police officers serve as a strong deterrent to crime along their routes.