The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered all state Commissioners of Police to immediately redeploy officers withdrawn from VIP protection to conventional anti-crime operations across the country.
The directive was conveyed in an internal police wireless message issued by the Department of Operations (DOPS) at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, on January 5, 2026, and obtained by SaharaReporters.
According to the signal, which was addressed to all Commissioners of Police and copied to key police departments as well as Assistant Inspectors-General across Zones 1 to 17, the IGP directed that all Special Protection Unit (SPU) bases within each state be placed under the direct control of the respective state police commands.
Commissioners were instructed to deploy all personnel withdrawn from VIP protection roles to frontline policing and other conventional anti-crime duties, as part of efforts to strengthen security nationwide amid rising criminal activities.
The IGP also mandated state commands to organise training programmes for the redeployed officers where necessary, to ensure their effectiveness in crime prevention and response.
In addition, each command was directed to forward a comprehensive list of the affected personnel to the Force Headquarters for proper documentation and monitoring.
“All commands are to acknowledge receipt of this directive for strict compliance,” the signal stated.
The move signals a force-wide shift aimed at boosting operational capacity and improving police presence in tackling crime across the country.
