We didn’t intend to strip VIPs of police escorts – Force Headquarters

The Force Headquarters on Thursday said it never at any point intended to strip Very Important Personalities (VIPs) of their police escorts.

Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi in a post on X clarified that withdrawal of Police Mobile Force (PMF) personnel did not equate to a blanket ban on all police officers from providing VIP escort services.

“First and foremost, let us be clear: at no point did the Force intend to strip VIPs (who are legally and statutorily entitled to Police escorts) of their security details. Doing so would be unsafe and counterproductive.

“Instead, the objective is to reassign the withdrawn PMF personnel to the recently established Special Intervention Squad (SIS). For those who genuinely require specialized Police escorts, this vital service will continue to be provided by other units of the Force, such as the Special Protection Unit (SPU).

“However, individuals who do not fall within and enjoy the legal framework for such security details would strictly be screened and their applications thoroughly assessed for consideration, if necessary. To eliminate any misunderstandings, it’s crucial to clarify that the withdrawal of Police Mobile Force (PMF) personnel does not equate to a blanket ban on all Police Officers from providing VIP escort services,” he said.

“We encourage everyone to read the full contents of our press statements rather than giving headlines whimsical meanings and spreading distorted information,” he added.