The Federal Government has ordered the immediate withdrawal and redeployment of officers of the Nigeria Police Force previously assigned to VIP escort duties.
The move, announced on Friday by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, signals a strategic shift from protecting private individuals to strengthening community policing nationwide.
According to Idris, the large-scale redeployment is aimed at reinforcing the country’s security architecture and returning thousands of officers to frontline duties.
The decision follows a devastating terrorist attack in Woro community and neighbouring Nuku area in Kwara North, Kwara State, where at least 75 villagers were killed.
Gunmen reportedly stormed the communities at about 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, killing scores of residents, setting shops ablaze, torching the residence of a traditional ruler, and forcing many villagers to flee into nearby bushes.
For years, the deployment of police personnel for private VIP protection has generated public criticism. Idris said the redeployment seeks to correct that imbalance by prioritising public safety.
He confirmed that the withdrawn officers have been integrated into frontline security structures, with immediate reinforcements in Kwara, Plateau, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger and the Federal Capital Territory.
The minister added that security has been strengthened around places of worship, including increased visible police presence at churches during Sunday services, in collaboration with community and faith leaders.
Idris said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains committed to a Nigerian-led counter-terrorism strategy rooted in national sovereignty.
However, he noted that the government remains open to strategic cooperation with international partners, including the United States, particularly in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support where it aligns with Nigeria’s national interests.
Meanwhile, the Northern States Governors’ Forum condemned the killings in Kwara, Katsina and Benue states, describing them as “barbaric, senseless, and a direct assault on the collective conscience of the nation.”
Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, described the attack as a “pure massacre” and confirmed that the victims had been buried.
In response, President Tinubu has ordered the deployment of an army battalion to Kwara State to reinforce security operations.
The Federal Government reiterated its resolve to restore peace and ensure that Nigerians can live and worship freely without fear.
