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Tag: VIPs

  • Withdrawal of mobile police from VIPs stands firm – Ag IGP

    Withdrawal of mobile police from VIPs stands firm – Ag IGP

    The Nigeria Police Force has insisted not to reverse its earlier policy and decision of withdrawing Police Mobile Force, (PMF)  personnel from  important personalities.

    Recall that the Acting Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, had promised to remove PMF from  VIPs, however promised to protect them.

    It said recent news circulating regarding the possible reversal of the PMF reform policy was untrue.

    CSP Muyiwa Adejobi, Force Public Relations Officer,  in a statement yesterday, said: “The Force wishes to clarify that the decision to withdraw the PMF personnel from escort and guard duties stands firm, and there will be no going back on this critical policy change.

    “The withdrawal process has already commenced with a comprehensive report, which has been submitted by the constituted committee assigned to oversee the seamless implementation of this directive.

    “And the IGP has activated the mobilization process for the establishment of the Police Quick Intervention Squad which precedes the withdrawal policy.

    “The decision to withdraw Police Mobile Force personnel from VIP duties is part of ongoing efforts to optimize the allocation of resources and enhance the efficiency of the Nigeria Police Force in its core mandate of safeguarding the lives and properties of all citizens.

    “While poised to ensure a smooth transition, the Nigeria Police Force is committed to providing adequate security arrangements for VIPs who are entitled to such protection.

    “Meanwhile, the Force will carefully consider the provisions of Sections 23 to 25 of the Police Act 2020, in recruiting more supernumerary officers, to handle VIP security responsibilities.

    “No VIP or critical infrastructure will be left unprotected as a result of the new policy.

    “The Inspector-General of Police remains resolute in his pursuit of reforms and initiatives that will enhance the professionalism and public trust in the Nigeria Police Force.

    “The decision to withdraw Police Mobile Force personnel from VIPs is driven by the need to create a more robust, efficient, and people-centered police force that caters to the security needs of all citizens equally.

    “The IGP, therefore, urges the public and all stakeholders to support and cooperate with the Nigeria Police Force during this transition period to strengthen the security apparatus and create a safer environment for everyone to thrive.”

  • Proposed withdrawal of Police from VIPs: Egbetokun changed rhythm of Police tradition

    Proposed withdrawal of Police from VIPs: Egbetokun changed rhythm of Police tradition

    Following the proposed withdrawal of Police from VIPs by the acting Inspector-General of Police  Olukayode Egbetokun, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, force public relations officer has said the appointment of the IGP has definitely changed the rhythm of Police tradition most especially on certain administrative and operational engagements which will surely trigger a paradigm shift for the betterment of internal security architecture.

    Adejobi in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja said, one will ordinarily think Egbetokun’s pronouncement is as usual, like preceding announcements by previous IGP’s, which never saw the light of the day, or were never complied with by officers and men on the field.

    The force PRO said, “It is imperative to state categorically that this policy is not a regular procedure as the Ag. IGP’s approach includes the setting up of a committee to guide the process and the exploration of the use of supernumerary officers, in line with the provisions of Sections 23 to 25 of the Police Act 2020.

    “The incessant abuse of police officers attached to certain individuals and companies on guard or escort duty has become worrisome and detestable, particularly to the present leadership. This necessitates the drive to not only deploy these officers for strategic police assignments, but to also sanitize the police, review the process and deployment of men on VIP guards, in order to restore the dignity of the personnel in particular, and the NPF in general.

    “The decision to withdraw PMF personnel from VIPs and establish a Special Intervention Squad is aimed at ensuring a more inclusive and effective security framework that caters to the needs of all Nigerians rather than a select few. This strategic shift in approach recognizes the importance of equal access to security services for all citizens and seeks to enhance the overall safety and well-being of the Nigerian populace. The current leadership possesses the requisite zeal to enforce the directive and monitor the withdrawal process, ensuring it is seamless while gradually moving away from individual protection to collective general social safety

    “By establishing a committee to guide the process headed by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of operations, the IGP is demonstrating a commitment to transparency, accountability, and actualization of the policy for improved public safety.  This committee will oversee the implementation of the withdrawal process and ensure a smooth transition while addressing any concerns or challenges that may arise. It will work in close collaboration with relevant stakeholders, including VIPs, to ensure that the interests and security requirements of all concerned are duly considered.

    “Furthermore, the exploration of the use of supernumerary officers aligns with the provisions of Sections 23 to 25 of the Police Act 2020. This legal framework allows VIPs to employ individuals for their security and have them trained by the police as supernumerary officers. This approach not only provides an opportunity for VIPs to have dedicated security personnel but also ensures that these individuals receive proper training and adhere to professional standards set by the police.

    “The introduction of a Special Intervention Squad will further enhance the capacity of the Police Force to respond swiftly and effectively to emerging security challenges across the country. This specialized unit will be adequately equipped and trained to handle critical situations and provide rapid assistance where needed. The focus on establishing this squad demonstrates the IGP’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all Nigerians.

    The force public relations officer stressed that the proposed withdrawal of PMF personnel from VIPs and the establishment of a Special Intervention Squad by the IGP represents a significant departure from previous approaches.

    “The involvement of a guiding committee and the exploration of supernumerary officers under the provisions of the Police Act 2020 ensure that the process will be inclusive, transparent, and effective.

  • Attacks: Police authorities order officers to stop escort services for VIPs in South East states

    Attacks: Police authorities order officers to stop escort services for VIPs in South East states

    Police authorities have directed its operatives not to accompany their principals to Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo and Rivers States until the security situation in the region improves.

    The order was sequel to the unceasing attacks on security operatives and formations in the South-East and part of South-South zones by suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

    According to a report by The Nation, the directives was contained in a wireless message with reference CB: 0900/DTS/DOPS/VOL.47/812X, titled ‘Attack on policemen, snatching of rifles by IPOB,’ by the Commissioner of Police, Asaba, Delta State.

    Findings revealed the police copied the Chief Security Officer, Government House, Chief Superintendent of Police, Department of Operations, Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, Delta State House of Assembly, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation annex, among others.

    The wireless message reads: “Sequel to the incessant attacks on policemen and snatching of arms and ammunition by the proscribed IPOB/ESN (Eastern Security Network) elements in the Eastern states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo States and Rivers State, COMPOL DOPS directs you warn personnel that escort of their principals to the six eastern states is suspended forthwith until security situation improves. Ensure strict compliance, please.”

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that since last year, many operatives have been killed during coordinated attacks on security formations in the South-East and South-South regions.

    The situation has sparked panic among security personnel.

    Confirming the development, the Force Public Relation Officer, CP Frank Mba said the step was taken to save the officers and their principals from gunmen.

    Mba said the signal originated from Delta State Command and it was issued on the authorities of the Commissioner of Police, in Delta State.

    He said the signal is clear, adding that: “That signal did not come from Force headquarters, so is not a nationwide directive.

    “And any reasonable person will understand that this is a very good directive. The Commissioner of Police acted within his powers and he gave the directives to cure certain mischief”.

  • VIDEO: VIPs, Government officials who flout COVID-19 travel protocols won’t escape sanctions – PTF

    VIDEO: VIPs, Government officials who flout COVID-19 travel protocols won’t escape sanctions – PTF

    The Federal Government has said there will be repercussions for Very Important Personalities (VIPs) and government officials who flout travel protocols.

    In a video posted by the Ministry of Information and Culture on Wednesday via Twitter, the National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19, Dr Sani Aliyu, vowed to clamp down on officials for failing to obey travel protocols including undergoing compulsory COVID-19 tests after returning into the country.

    “We want to change people’s behaviour. We’ve shown that we are going to do it. We have done it and we will continue to do it every week until things change. It is not like we want to punish people but if you continue to put our country at risk, we will take action,” he said.

    “Next week, we will publish another 100, subsequent weeks, we will continue to publish until we see an improvement in terms of the compliance. So, whether you are a VIP, whether you are a government official, whether you are in a leadership position, if you do not follow the travel protocols, there will be repercussions.

    “We do not publish names because the essence of doing the entire exercise is to force people to comply with our protocols.”

    Sani’s remarks comes four days after the Federal Government released the passport numbers of 100 travellers who failed to undergo COVID-19 tests after returning into the country.

    It placed a travel restriction on the passport holders for six months from January 1, 2021, to June 30, 2021.

  • Nigerian roads only safe for VIPs – Ondo Governor, Akeredolu

    Nigerian roads only safe for VIPs – Ondo Governor, Akeredolu

    Ondo state governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has decried the spate of kidnapping on highways but assured that the menace would become the thing of the past soonest.

    He spoke on Sunday evening during the maiden participatory Radio/Television programme tagged” an evening with Mr Governor’ in Akure, the state capital.

    Akeredolu lamented that Akure/Ibadan road is now notorious of the incident, stressing that his convoy ran into suspected kidnappers on the same road recently, but ran into the bush when his security men opened fire.

    Akeredolu noted that only those with security men in their convoys such as governor and deputy were now sure of safety on the nation’s roads.

    According to him, his convoy was almost attacked but the security details shot on the air to scare them (kidnappers) to the bush. It is a serious problem on Akure-Ibadan road. We as governors will do something about the issue with the federal government”.

    He said the situation was affecting only the masses as the big men enjoy themselves when they drive in convoy stressing that only two people can drive in the state with convoy, governor and the deputy governor.

    He admitted that lives of travellers are not save on the road, but jokingly said “I have passed the level where somebody can kidnap me again”.

    On the increase in Internal Generated Revenue(IGR) Akeredolu said” it has not placed undue burden on the good people of Ondo state, we have not increased tax.

    ” The only difference is that we have trained personnel who have ensured accountability and proper collection of these funds in all local governments across the state”.

    “When we came on board, Ondo state generate N700M as IGR and with this, it can get us to anywhere and that is why we have to put all hands on deck to generate N1.5B for this year and we are still working hard on how to generate it”.

  • No police officer is allowed to move around with any VIP on election day -IG

    No police officer is allowed to move around with any VIP on election day -IG

    The acting Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Adamu, has said no police officer is allowed to accompany any politician during the forthcoming elections.

    Adamu, who spoke at the public presentation of a partnership between some stakeholders in the elections, noted that ensuring security during the conduct of the polls was the duty of every participant.

    The partnership, headed by the Transition Monitoring Group and the Human and Environmental Development Agenda, included the Police Service Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, among others.

    Adamu said, “Everyone has a civic responsibility in ensuring peaceful and credible elections. Election materials must be secured. Electoral officials, domestic and foreign observers must be protected.

    “The Independent National Electoral Commission has rolled out the ways stakeholders should conduct themselves. On our part, we assure the nation that all electoral materials will be secured and the electorate will be allowed to cast their votes without monetisation.

    “No police officer is allowed to move around with any VIP on election day. Anyone, who does so in uniform or mufti will be arrested.”

    The acting IG added that all security agents would wear tags to ensure there are no fake officers “because we have heard that a lot of fake uniforms are being brought into the country.”

    He also noted that security agents would monitor ad hoc staff that could easily be manipulated, “especially National Youth Service Corps members.”

    Adamu added that observers were allowed to take pictures but that they could not take pictures of people while voting “such that you know what party they are voting for.”

  • Atiku hails directive ordering withdrawal of police orderlies from VIPs

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Tuesday applauded the decision by the Inspector General of Police to withdraw its personnel from guarding important personalities and organisations in Nigeria.

    The Inspector-General of Police, Idris Ibrahim, on Monday announced the withdrawal of the officers said to number about 150,000.

    Speaking on the decision through a statement from his media office signed by Paul Ibe, Mr. Abubakar said it is obvious that Nigeria has a security emergency.

    The statement reads in full: “That Nigeria has a security emergency cannot be overstated. Our security forces are overstretched. We do not have enough military and paramilitary forces to provide security for the peace loving people of Nigeria which is why the recent Government Girls Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State kidnapping occurred. Their school was left unguarded.

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, had on Saturday, March 10, 2018 counselled for the reassigning of the 150,000 policemen guarding private citizens to core police duties.

    Asked by THISDAY on Saturday what he would do different to prevent abduction like Dapchi, the Waziri Adamawa had responded thus: “Recently, the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Chief Mike Okiro, revealed that 150,000 policemen are guarding various elites and those we know as ‘big men’. If I had my way, I would have recalled all of those 150,000 policemen who are not performing core police duties and send them to provide security for every school in the North-East region. That to me would be a better use of their time and services. We already know that Boko Haram has an agenda to cripple Western education in Nigeria. So how could we have left those schools unguarded? Why should the police be guarding VIPs who can afford personal guards and leave vulnerable girls unguarded? We are spending billions of Naira trying to encourage girls to go to school only to allow them be abducted by terrorists.”

    Atiku Abubakar welcomes the reported new policy of reassigning these 150,000 policemen from guarding VIPs to regular police duties especially as it relates to the much-needed protection of schools in the Northeast and other troubled zones.

    As Kenneth Blanchard said, none of us is as smart as all of us. The Waziri Adamawa continues to call on the Buhari government to be open to solutions from well meaning Nigerians and friends of Nigeria so we can navigate this nation away from the precipice,” the statement said.

  • Kidnapping: We’ll withdraw mobile policemen attached to VIPs to tackle menace – IGP

    Kidnapping: We’ll withdraw mobile policemen attached to VIPs to tackle menace – IGP

    Sequel to the growing cases of insecurity in the country, the Police on Friday said it would withdraw personnel of its mobile formation attached to important personalities in the country back to the barracks.

    Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, announced this in an interactive session with a group of civil society organisations under the auspices of “The Situation Room’’ in Abuja.

    He said that the measure was intended to bring the police closer to Nigerians.

    Idris said that the force had created additional mobile police squadron in states to enhance police operations, adding that Nigerians would now have more Special Protection Units (SPUs) in the commands in the zones.

    “We will withdraw all mobile police back to barracks to concentrate on dealing with serious law and order situation.

    “It means that we are stopping deployment of mobile police from protecting VIPs in the country because that is not where they should serve.

    “This is to allow us to have enough men on the ground to deal especially with the issues of kidnapping.

    “We are creating new SPUs in each command; so, virtually all commands will have them, and with the support of the state governments, most of them would be deployed specially to states.’’

    Idris said that the decision was basically to stem the cases of incessant kidnapping, adding that it had become a challenge that the force received hundreds of cases daily.

    He called for the establishment of special courts to address the cases of kidnapping.

    According to him, the public feels that kidnappers are not being prosecuted enough so there is need to seek strict measure to punish them.

    The IGP said that with the creation of special task force squadron on terrorism, a lot of kidnappers had been arrested and that the force had 2, 000 suspected kidnappers across the country.

    He reiterated the force’s commitment to apprehending the notorious and wanted kidnapper from Benue commonly called “Ghana’’, saying that his days were numbered.

    He thanked Nigerians for their support and called for more collaboration to curb crime “because it will take a collaborative effort to win against crime in the country’’.

    On his part, Convener of the Situation Room, Mr Clement Nwankwo, called for the prosecution of kidnappers to serve as deterrent to others.

    Nwankwo stressed the need for protection of lives and property in the country, adding that ‘kidnapping is a serious national issue that needs to be tackled urgently.’’

     

     

     

    NAN