Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Idris Wase, has urged President Bola Tinubu to urgently reconsider his order withdrawing police security details from Very Important Personalities (VIPs).
Speaking on Wednesday during a heated debate on national security in the lower chamber, Wase revealed that bandits have issued direct threats to abduct members of the National Assembly.
It may be recalled that on Sunday, during a high-level security meeting in Abuja attended by the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) and Service Chiefs, President Tinubu directed the immediate withdrawal of police officers attached to VIPs nationwide.
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The President ordered the Inspector-General of Police to redeploy all personnel attached to VIPs and non-essential beats back to frontline duties. Under the new directive, Tinubu instructed all officers attached to VIPs to return to their bases without delay.
Tinubu further stated that any VIP requiring armed protection must now formally request personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) instead of the police.
The President explained that the decision was aimed at boosting police presence in communities — especially rural villages where police stations are chronically understaffed, and citizens remain highly vulnerable to attacks.
Wase, however, demanded that President Tinubu clearly define the categories of VIPs affected by the new order, warning that there was a time when Boko Haram terrorists were discovered among recruits in both the Army and the Police Force.
Why the President Took the Drastic Step
Rural communities have remained prime targets for gunmen, bandits, and terrorist groups. The infamous 2014 Chibok abduction saw 276 schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram. Since then, over 1,500 children have been abducted across the country.
Just last Friday, Niger State recorded the latest mass abduction when bandits stormed St. Mary’s Catholic boarding school and kidnapped at least 300 children and staff. As of this report, around 250 children remain unaccounted for.
The incident marked the third school attack in one week, forcing President Tinubu to cancel his planned trip to the G20 summit in South Africa over the weekend to personally handle the escalating crisis, which has triggered international outrage and embarrassment.
While the government announced that 24 girls abducted in a separate incident over a week ago have regained their freedom, details surrounding their release remain shrouded in secrecy.
On 17 November, armed bandits stormed a school in Kebbi State, abducting 25 students. Two people were killed during the attack, while one student reportedly escaped shortly after.
President Tinubu has praised security forces for their “bravery and swift response” in some of the cases, but Nigerians continue to question why such attacks keep recurring despite repeated promises of improved security.
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