Police Crackdown: Unauthorised Escort Officers Face Arrest, Trial – Force PRO

The Nigeria Police Force has ordered a crackdown on officers deployed for unauthorised escort duties, warning that personnel caught protecting unauthorised individuals will be arrested, investigated and prosecuted.

Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Iniedu, disclosed this on Tuesday, saying the directive was part of a wider effort to restore the Police Mobile Force (PMF) to its original role as the force’s frontline combat unit.

Speaking on TVC News’ TVC Breakfast, Iniedu said the police had already withdrawn PMF personnel from unauthorised escort assignments and would no longer tolerate officers ignoring directives from the Inspector-General of Police.

He said the PMF had for years been diverted to conventional policing, VIP protection and other duties, weakening its capacity to confront kidnapping, banditry and terrorism.

“The PMF is the major striking arm of the Nigerian Police Force, with a doctrine of silence, speed and surprise,” he said.

According to him, the current re-energisation of the unit is designed to return its personnel to frontline security operations and improve the force’s response to violent crime.

Iniedu disclosed that a 750-man specialised PMF squad had recently undergone training and would be deployed for decentralised clearance operations across the country’s geopolitical zones.

He said the withdrawal of personnel from unauthorised escort duties had also enabled the police to expand PMF squadron bases from 52 to 84 nationwide.

The police spokesman stressed that the new policy would be enforced, warning officers who disregard the directive that they would face immediate disciplinary action.

“It is not gone are the days when directives are given and are flouted,” he said.

“When any officer is seen in unauthorised escort duties, [he] is immediately arrested and tried.”

The development signals a tougher approach by the police leadership towards the longstanding practice of deploying specialised police personnel to protect VIPs and other individuals outside their approved assignments.

Iniedu said the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, had prioritised the welfare, training and operational readiness of personnel as part of the broader restructuring of the force.

He also said the police were strengthening intelligence-led operations and collaboration with other security agencies to tackle kidnapping, terrorism and banditry.

According to him, where the military conducts clearance operations and recovers territories from terrorists or other criminal groups, the police would be responsible for taking over the areas, maintaining law and order and preventing criminals from returning.

The PRO further warned police officers against becoming involved in civil disputes, including debt recovery, land disputes, landlord-tenant disagreements and family matters.

He said personnel found violating the directive would be summoned to Force Headquarters, investigated and appropriately sanctioned.

Iniedu said the police were also strengthening their Complaint Response Unit to enable members of the public to report misconduct by officers.

He maintained that the measures were part of efforts to build a more disciplined, professional and combat-ready police force capable of responding effectively to Nigeria’s security challenges.