Members of the House of Representatives have voiced serious security concerns following President Bola Tinubu's directive to withdraw police officers from Very Important Personalities across Nigeria.
Lawmakers Sound Alarm Over Security Threats
Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Idris Wase, issued a stark warning on Wednesday, November 26, revealing that bandits are actively threatening to abduct members of the National Assembly. The disclosure came during resumed debates on national security in the lower legislative chamber.
Wase urgently called on President Tinubu to reconsider his recent order withdrawing police operatives assigned to protect VIPs throughout the country. The lawmaker emphasized the vulnerable position this decision places elected officials serving the nation.
Tinubu's Police Redeployment Directive
President Tinubu had earlier mandated the Nigeria Police Force to recall all personnel previously assigned to VIP protection duties during a high-level security meeting in Abuja on Sunday, November 23. The meeting was attended by Service Chiefs and the Director-General of the Department of State Services.
The presidential directive requires the Special Protection Unit to withdraw all officers from VIP protection and beat duties nationwide. Under the new security arrangement, individuals requiring personal security must now request armed personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps rather than relying on police protection.
The Presidency explained that this strategic move aims to strengthen police presence in local communities, particularly in remote areas where police stations remain critically understaffed and citizens face heightened vulnerability to criminal activities.
Clarity Needed on VIP Classification
Wase raised important questions about the classification of VIPs, pointing to past security breaches in recruitment processes. "There was a time when Boko Haram terrorists were found on the list of recruits in the Army and Police Force. We must be careful in defining who qualifies as a VIP," he cautioned during the parliamentary session.
The former deputy speaker stressed that while redeploying police officers to community policing might enhance general security, the safety of legislators and other critical government figures must remain a top priority. "We cannot compromise on security for those serving the nation, and adequate protection must be guaranteed at all times," Wase asserted.
Escalating Security Crisis Nationwide
The lawmakers' concerns come against the backdrop of a severe security crisis affecting multiple regions of Nigeria. The country has witnessed a disturbing surge in mass abductions in recent years, with official records indicating that more than 1,500 children have been kidnapped from schools since the infamous Chibok abduction in 2014.
Most recently, at least 300 children and staff were abducted from St Mary's Catholic boarding school in Niger state, with approximately 250 still missing according to the Christian Association of Nigeria. This incident marked the third major abduction within a single week, prompting President Tinubu to cancel his scheduled trip to the G20 summit in South Africa to manage the escalating crisis.
In a related development, 24 schoolgirls kidnapped in Kebbi state over a week ago were successfully released following an attack by armed assailants on November 17 that resulted in two staff members killed and 25 students initially taken hostage, though one managed to escape. President Tinubu commended security forces for their swift response, though specific details surrounding the girls' release remain unclear.
The security situation continues to dominate national discourse as the government balances the need for community policing with the protection of public officials facing direct threats from criminal elements operating across the country.
