News

After Police Recall, DSS Officers Seek VIP Escort Assignments

Published by admin on December 13th, 2025.

After Police Recall, DSS Officers Seek VIP Escort Assignments

Screenshot

Following President Bola Tinubu’s directive withdrawing police personnel attached to VIPs, some officers of the Department of State Services (DSS) have reportedly begun approaching influential Nigerians in a bid to secure personal security postings. This development comes amid the Federal Government’s renewed push to redeploy security forces to communities battling rising insecurity.

The President had, on November 24, ordered the immediate withdrawal of police officers assigned to politicians and other VIPs, citing the need to strengthen internal security across the country. In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu said the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) would henceforth handle VIP protection previously managed by the police.

In line with the directive, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, announced that over 11,500 officers had been disengaged from VIP duties and reassigned to frontline policing. He explained that the move was aimed at improving security in crime-prone areas nationwide.

Sources revealed that since the police withdrawal, many prominent individuals have turned to the NSCDC and private security firms to fill the gap. At the same time, some DSS operatives are said to be quietly lobbying high-profile individuals to recommend them to state directors for deployment as personal security aides.

A senior government official in Lagos, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed that DSS officers familiar with him had visited twice, requesting that he intervene on their behalf. According to him, the officers appeared eager to take advantage of the situation following the withdrawal of police escorts.

Similarly, an aide to a businessman and religious leader in Osun State confirmed that some DSS officers had contacted the man’s family members, expressing interest in replacing the withdrawn police personnel. The aide noted that the officers wanted the businessman to influence their redeployment.

However, a senior DSS official cautioned that such efforts might be futile, explaining that strict internal rules now guide VIP postings within the Service. He stated that only junior officers are typically eligible for such assignments, adding that the current DSS leadership has eliminated arbitrary deployments. Under existing guidelines, officers above Level 13 are rarely assigned to VIP duties except in very limited cases, such as governors or the Presidency.

Another DSS source acknowledged that while protecting key individuals falls within the agency’s mandate, desperation for “comfortable” postings should be discouraged. He stressed that all deployments must follow laid-down procedures and approvals, warning that attachment to VIPs is neither automatic nor guaranteed.

Meanwhile, investigations show that the demand for private security escorts has surged since the police recall. Several private security firms confirmed a sharp rise in requests, particularly from VIPs planning interstate travel. Security operators noted that although their personnel are largely unarmed, clients still prefer having trained escorts rather than moving alone.

Executives of private security companies said the sudden increase in demand has strained their capacity, especially as the NSCDC struggles to meet the growing needs. Some firms explained that they rely on partnerships with licensed agencies to provide armed support where permitted.

In the National Assembly, the Senate has dismissed speculation that it is seeking special security arrangements for lawmakers. Senate spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu, said there was no collective plan to request protection, noting that individual senators are free to approach the NSCDC if they require security, in line with the President’s directive.

Adaramodu added that the Senate fully supports the President’s decision, emphasizing that the focus should be on strengthening national security. He also reassured lawmakers that plans are underway to recruit more police officers to boost manpower.

Reacting to the development, the Commander General of the Nigeria Forest Security Service, Joshua Osatimehin, warned that any attack on a high-profile individual could heighten national tension. While expressing readiness to support VIP protection, he noted that his organisation lacks sufficient manpower and equipment.

Osatimehin argued that insecurity must be tackled at its roots, particularly in forested areas where criminal groups operate. He called on the Federal Government to officially empower forest guards with better resources and legal backing to effectively contribute to the fight against insecurity.