The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) has approved the immediate withdrawal of police officers attached to the No. 24 Police Mobile Force (PMF) Presidential Escort at the State House, Abuja, directing them to return to their respective state commands across the country.
The directive was conveyed in a police signal dated December 16, 2025, issued by the Department of Finance and Administration (Welfare) at the Force Headquarters in Abuja. The signal ordered senior police officers and formations to implement the redeployment without delay.
It was addressed to the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, Assistant Inspectors-General overseeing the Police Mobile Force and zonal commands, as well as Commissioners of Police nationwide.
According to the signal, the officers affected were those deployed for close protection duties at the Presidential Villa. Under the new posting arrangement, they have been reassigned to their home states and other police commands across the federation.
Copies of the directive were also sent to the Chief Personal Security Officer to the President, the Commander of No. 24 Police Mobile Force in Abuja, and several state police commands and major formations nationwide.
The development follows an earlier directive by President Bola Tinubu in November, which ordered the withdrawal of police personnel from VIP escort and guard duties as part of broader efforts to rationalise police deployments and strengthen security at the grassroots.
As part of the redeployment, officers were posted to multiple states and commands. Thirteen officers were reassigned to Adamawa, while 18 were redeployed to Kebbi. Seven officers were posted to Anambra, two to Akwa Ibom, and 12 to Bauchi.
Nine officers were sent to Benue, eight to Borno, and four to Bayelsa. One officer was redeployed to Cross River, while Ebonyi received nine officers. Ekiti got 10 officers, Enugu nine, and the Federal Capital Territory 22 officers.
Gombe received 12 officers, while other states affected by the redeployment include Imo (eight officers), Jigawa (16), Kogi (16), Kano (16), Katsina (21), Kwara (16), Nasarawa (15), Niger (20), Ondo (six), Osun (six), Plateau (19), Sokoto (18), Taraba (19), and Yobe (15).
In addition, zonal commands were also affected, with Zone 1, Kano, receiving two officers; Zone 3, Yola, one officer; and Zone 7, Abuja, six officers.
The large-scale redeployment is seen as part of ongoing reforms within the Nigeria Police Force aimed at reducing the concentration of officers on VIP protection and improving security coverage across states and communities. The move is also expected to enhance operational efficiency and strengthen policing at the command level nationwide.
