IGP Orders Quiet Demobilisation of Presidential Escort Unit, Redeploys Officers Nationwide

IGP Orders Quiet Demobilisation of Presidential Escort Unit, Redeploys Officers Nationwide

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) has approved the quiet demobilisation of officers attached to the No. 24 Police Mobile Force (PMF) Presidential Escort Unit at the State House, Abuja, with affected personnel redeployed to police commands across the country.

According to a police signal dated December 16, 2025, and referenced CH:5660/WEL/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.96, the directive was issued by the Department of Finance and Administration (Welfare), Force Headquarters, Abuja. The signal ordered senior police formations to ensure the immediate redeployment of the officers to their respective state commands.

The instruction, addressed to the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, Assistant Inspectors-General overseeing the PMF and zonal commands, as well as Commissioners of Police nationwide, confirmed that the demobilisation affects officers previously deployed for close protection duties at the Presidential Villa.

Under the directive, officers were ordered to return from Abuja to commands including Adamawa, Kebbi, Kaduna, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Bayelsa, Cross River, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Enugu, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Gombe, and several other states.

Police sources indicated that dozens of officers were redistributed across more than 30 state commands, with additional redeployments to zonal headquarters in Kano, Yola and Abuja, reflecting the scale of the internal movement.

The signal was also copied to the Chief Personal Security Officer to the President, the Commander of No. 24 PMF Abuja, and police formations in major cities including Abakaliki, Awka, Bauchi, Calabar, Enugu, Gombe, Jos, Kano, Katsina, Makurdi, Maiduguri, Minna, Owerri, Sokoto, Uyo, Yola and Yenagoa.

The development follows President Bola Tinubu’s directive issued in November ordering the withdrawal of police officers from VIP escort and guard duties, insisting that personnel be redeployed to core policing functions amid growing security challenges nationwide.

Following the order, the Nigeria Police Force has reportedly deployed monitoring teams to ensure compliance, while civil defence personnel have been assigned to replace withdrawn police escorts in some locations.