IG halts withdrawal of policemen attached to VIPs

The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has halted
temporarily, the withdrawal of policemen attached to Very Important
Persons to enable the force to carry out an assessment of the
current personnel deployment.

He stated that the withdrawal would now take effect from April
20, 2018.

Idris, in a statement on Thursday, in Abuja, by the police
spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, stated that the decision to suspend the
withdrawal by one month was taken after a meeting with the
Commanders of Police Mobile Force, Counter-Terrorism and Special
Protection Units on Tuesday.

“The withdrawal will now take effect from April 20, this is to
enable the Force to carry out a thorough assessment of the current
deployment and carry out appropriate withdrawal.

“Meanwhile, the IG has directed the Deputy Inspector-General of
Police, Operations, to direct all the Commissioners of Police and
their supervising Assistant Inspectors-General of Police in the
states and zonal commands to halt the withdrawal, revise and return
those already withdrawn to their duty posts pending the new date of
April 20, 2018,” the statement read.

It added that the Task Force Teams set up by the IG at the Force
Headquarters, the Force X – Squad and others set up by the AIGs and
CPs, have equally been directed by Idris to suspend the enforcement
of the withdrawal with immediate effect pending the new date.

The police reiterated that, “Members of the public, political
and political office holders, including VIPs and other categories
of enterprises and corporate individuals and other entities are to
retain the police officers currently with them on deployment.”

The force pointed out that those enjoying police protection may
be provided personnel at the expiration of the period, from the
Special Protection Unit of the Force.

It asked interested persons or organisations to apply for
re-validation through the CPs of the states where they are resident
before April 20.

The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has halted
temporarily, the withdrawal of policemen attached to Very Important
Persons to enable the force to carry out an assessment of the
current personnel deployment.

He stated that the withdrawal would now take effect from April
20, 2018.

Idris, in a statement on Thursday, in Abuja, by the police
spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, stated that the decision to suspend the
withdrawal by one month was taken after a meeting with the
Commanders of Police Mobile Force, Counter-Terrorism and Special
Protection Units on Tuesday.

“The withdrawal will now take effect from April 20, this is to
enable the Force to carry out a thorough assessment of the current
deployment and carry out appropriate withdrawal.

“Meanwhile, the IG has directed the Deputy Inspector-General of
Police, Operations, to direct all the Commissioners of Police and
their supervising Assistant Inspectors-General of Police in the
states and zonal commands to halt the withdrawal, revise and return
those already withdrawn to their duty posts pending the new date of
April 20, 2018,” the statement read.

It added that the Task Force Teams set up by the IG at the Force
Headquarters, the Force X – Squad and others set up by the AIGs and
CPs, have equally been directed by Idris to suspend the enforcement
of the withdrawal with immediate effect pending the new date.

The police reiterated that, “Members of the public, political
and political office holders, including VIPs and other categories
of enterprises and corporate individuals and other entities are to
retain the police officers currently with them on deployment.”

The force pointed out that those enjoying police protection may
be provided personnel at the expiration of the period, from the
Special Protection Unit of the Force.

It asked interested persons or organisations to apply for
re-validation through the CPs of the states where they are resident
before April 20.