The Nigerian Police Drive (NPF) has carried out a large-scale redeployment of officers beforehand assigned to Very Essential Individuals (VIP) escort duties to security-prone North Central states following the latest lethal assaults in Kwara State.
The disclosure was made in a press release issued on Friday, February 13, 2026, by the Minister of Data and Nationwide Orientation, Mohammed Idris.
Based on the minister, the transfer is a part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s safety structure because the Federal Authorities intensifies operations throughout the North Central area after terrorist assaults in Kwara State that reportedly left 75 villagers lifeless.
Idris stated officers previously hooked up to VIP safety have now returned to core group policing capabilities, resulting in measurable enhancements in safety presence throughout affected states.
He added that the elevated deployment to high-risk communities demonstrates President Bola Tinubu’s dedication to defending lives and safeguarding residents’ proper to worship freely.
Based on him, enhanced safety round locations of worship — together with elevated police visibility round church buildings on Sundays is being applied in coordination with native communities and religion leaders.
Offering additional particulars on the renewed safety push, Idris stated the Federal Authorities has launched a coordinated offensive code-named “Operation Savannah Defend.”
The operation entails the deployment of navy personnel, law enforcement officials, and nationwide forest guard items to bolster safety property throughout the theatre of operations.
The minister stated President Tinubu condemned the Kwara assaults as “beastly” and “heartless,” describing them as a part of a determined marketing campaign concentrating on gentle civilian populations.
He famous that the president has directed safety businesses to deliver the complete weight of the state towards people and {groups} threatening peace within the area.
The redeployment of law enforcement officials from VIP escort duties to frontline group policing is anticipated to enhance public security, significantly in rural and semi-urban areas which have lengthy complained of insufficient safety presence.
Key implications embody:
Safety specialists be aware that seen and responsive policing can considerably cut back crime charges and restore public confidence, supplied the method prioritises group engagement over extreme power.
In November 2025, President Tinubu ordered the rapid withdrawal of law enforcement officials hooked up to VIPs nationwide, directing that they be redeployed to core policing duties.
Based on Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, the directive aimed to appropriate years of disproportionate personnel allocation that left many communities under-policed.
Underneath the association, VIPs requiring continued safety are anticipated to request armed escorts from the Nigeria Safety and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The presidency had earlier expressed concern over declining police visibility in distant areas, the place stations had been reportedly working with skeletal manpower previous to the redeployment directive.
