By Huldah Shado
President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday reaffirmed his directive for the immediate withdrawal of police officers attached to VIPs, insisting that the order must now be fully enforced.
Speaking briefly before presiding over the Federal Executive Council meeting at the State House, Abuja, Tinubu expressed displeasure over delayed compliance.
“I believe in what I said. It should be effected. If you have any problem because of your assignment, contact the Inspector-General of Police and get my clearance,” he said.
To prevent security gaps, Tinubu directed the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to work with the Inspector-General of Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to deploy civil defence personnel where necessary.
“So that you don’t leave people exposed,” he added.
The President also instructed the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the Department of State Services to issue further guidance and review the security structure.
Tinubu linked the decision to rising cases of kidnapping, stressing the need to redeploy officers to core policing.
“We need all the forces we have on the ground, fully utilised,” he said.
He further disclosed that forest guards would be armed to strengthen security in ungoverned spaces and directed the NSA to take immediate action.
The President also tasked Vice-President Kashim Shettima to use the National Economic Council to identify and rehabilitate grazing reserves for ranching as part of efforts to resolve farmer-herder conflicts.
