By Ben Adoga and Cross Udo, with agency report
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the immediate withdrawal of police officers assigned to Very Important Persons (VIPs) across the country, directing that the affected personnel be redeployed to core policing duties in communities facing rising security threats.
The directive was issued on Sunday during a high-level security meeting at the Presidential Villa, attended by the heads of the army, air force, police, and the Department of State Services (DSS).
The move marked a significant shift in the administration’s strategy to tackle insecurity and address long-standing concerns over inadequate police presence in rural and vulnerable areas.
Under the new arrangement, VIPs requiring personal protection will no longer be guarded by police officers; instead, they must obtain armed escorts from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The presidency said the measure will free up thousands of police personnel for frontline operations nationwide.
Officials say many parts of Nigeria, particularly remote communities, operate with critically low numbers of police officers—often fewer than five per station—leaving residents exposed to bandit attacks, kidnappings, and violent crime.
To strengthen the new deployment plan, President Tinubu has also approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional police officers and initiated collaboration with state governments to upgrade police training facilities nationwide.
Sunday’s meeting was attended by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Waidi Shaibu; the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke; the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; and the DSS Director-General, Tosin Adeola Ajayi.
The presidency is expected to release further operational details in the coming days as police commanders begin the phased recall of officers from VIP protection duties.
*Experts condemn misuse of N144bn Safe Schools fund as kidnappings rise
Meanwhile, experts have condemned the alleged misuse of the N144.8 billion Safe Schools Fund, warning that the massive investment has failed to prevent the rising wave of student abductions across northern Nigeria.
This came as more than 300 students and teachers were kidnapped within one week, forcing the Federal Government to shut down at least 47 Federal Unity Colleges due to escalating security threats.
The Safe Schools Initiative, launched in 2014 and backed by the Federal Government, state governments, the private sector, and international partners such as UNICEF and the World Bank, was conceived to fortify learning environments against attacks.
Under the 2023–2026 National Plan, the programme received an estimated N144.8 billion, with the Federal Government expected to provide 83 per cent of the funding.
Despite this heavy investment, security analysts say the initiative has collapsed under corruption, weak supervision, and a lack of political will—exposed by the back-to-back mass kidnappings in Niger and Kebbi states.
Security expert, Rekpene Bassey, described the initiative as “marred by poor oversight and corrupt practices,” questioning why such a massive investment has not translated into safer schools.
He noted that the abduction of over 300 students and teachers from St. Mary’s School in Niger State and the kidnapping of 25 girls in Kebbi State demonstrate a complete breakdown of the programme.
Bassey criticised the Senate’s recent call for a probe into the fund’s utilisation, arguing that past legislative investigations have yielded no meaningful results.
He urged the presidency to launch an independent probe into how the N144.8 billion was spent, insisting that “a serious government would act decisively to restore public confidence.”
Strategic security analyst and lawyer Tony Oghoghorie said the initiative failed from the outset due to inadequate risk assessment, an unclear scope, and opaque execution.
He argued that the programme lacked the basic components of a credible school security plan—perimeter fencing, surveillance systems, guard deployment, and emergency response protocols.
“Nothing suggests these elements were implemented,” Oghoghorie said, adding that the programme’s secrecy made it impossible to track which schools benefited and how funds were deployed.
A retired Army Captain, Onah, said the initiative was “designed not to work,” stressing that Nigeria cannot secure schools when the country itself is unsafe.
He blamed political interference, infiltration of the military, and a failure to attack bandits at their bases for the persistent school abductions.
“With a few unarmed guards at school gates, you cannot protect children from terrorists armed with sophisticated weapons,” he warned, insisting that only decisive military action and strong political will can halt the wave of attacks.
With dozens of schools now closed and hundreds of students still in captivity, analysts warn that the Safe Schools Initiative has failed to deliver on its core mandate—raising fears about the safety of millions of schoolchildren in Nigeria’s most vulnerable regions.
*President expresses excitement over rescue of Kwara worshipers, return of 51 Niger Catholic students
President Bola Tinubu has expressed excitement over the rescue of 38 worshippers abducted in Eruku, Kwara State and the return of 51 students kidnapped in a Catholic School in Niger State.
The President said he was closely monitoring the security situation nationwide and receiving continuous updates from the front line.
Recall that President Tinubu had cancelled his trip to the G20 summit in South Africa to enable me to coordinate the security efforts at home.
The President on Friday night received a briefing from the Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS), Oluwatosin Ajayi, at the State House.
In his X handle (formerly Twitter), President Tinubu vowed that he will not relent in ensuring that the country is safe, adding that every Nigerian, in every state, has the right to safety.
He said under his watch as the Commander-in-Chief, the nation will be secured and the citizens protected.
He wrote, “My fellow Nigerians, you will recall that I cancelled my trip to the G20 summit in South Africa to enable me to coordinate the security efforts at home.
“Thanks to the efforts of our security forces over the last few days, all the 38 worshippers abducted in Eruku, Kwara State, have been rescued.
“I am equally happy that 51 out of the missing students of the Catholic School in Niger State have been recovered.
“I am closely monitoring the security situation nationwide and receiving continuous updates from the frontline.
Let me be clear: I will not relent. Every Nigerian, in every state, has the right to safety — and under my watch, we will secure this nation and protect our people.”
No fewer than 50 pupils of St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools, Papiri in Niger State, abducted during an attack by suspected terrorists, have escaped and reunited with their parents.
Rev. Bulus Yohanna, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Niger and Proprietor of the school, confirmed the development on Sunday in an update signed by his media aide, Mr Daniel Atori.
Yohanna, who is also the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, said the pupils escaped between Friday and Saturday but did not return to the school.
He said their return was confirmed during visits and calls to the affected families.
Yohanna explained that the school’s central section has 430 pupils, comprising 377 boarders and 53 day pupils.
He said that aside from the 50 pupils who escaped, 141 pupils were not taken away during the attack.
He added that 236 pupils, three children of staff members, 14 secondary school students, and 12 members of staff remain in captivity, bringing the total number of those still with the abductors to 253.
Yohanna urged the public to remain calm and prayerful, noting that the school and the church are collaborating with security agencies, community leaders, the government and other stakeholders to ensure the safe return of the remaining victims.
“As much as we receive the return of these 50 children with a sigh of relief, I urge you all to continue in your prayers for the rescue and safe return of the remaining victims,” he said.
He prayed for the quick release of the abductees and divine protection for the community.
