The Federal Government has ordered the immediate withdrawal and redeployment of officers of the Nigeria Police Force previously assigned to VIP escort duties nationwide, following the recent deadly attack in Kwara State.
Announcing the move on Friday, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described the decision as a strategic shift aimed at strengthening public safety.
“Further strengthening the security architecture, the Nigeria Police Force has executed a large-scale redeployment of officers previously assigned to VIP escort duties nationwide,” the minister said.
He explained that the policy marks a pivot from protecting private individuals to safeguarding the general public, noting that the decision followed the devastating attack in Kwara where dozens of villagers were killed.
The redeployment, described as a “large-scale redeployment,” seeks to correct long-standing concerns over the use of police personnel for private protection by returning thousands of officers to their core mandate of community policing. Idris confirmed that the affected personnel have already been integrated into frontline security operations.
States expected to see immediate reinforcement include Plateau, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, and the Federal Capital Territory, alongside Kwara.
The minister added that security presence has also been stepped up around places of worship. “Security has also been strengthened around places of worship, including increased visible presence around churches during Sunday services, in coordination with community and faith leaders,” he said.
Idris further noted that under Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria’s counter-terrorism strategy remains locally driven while allowing for targeted international cooperation where necessary.
According to him, the government remains open to strategic partnerships — including intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance support from countries such as the United States — where such cooperation aligns with national interests. He added that the administration remains committed to restoring peace and ensuring Nigerians can live and worship without fear.
Gruesome Attack
Gunmen attacked the Woro community and neighbouring Nuku area in Kwara North at about 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, killing at least 75 people. The attackers reportedly set shops ablaze, torched the residence of a traditional ruler, and forced many residents to flee into nearby bushes.
The Northern States Governors’ Forum condemned the killings in Kwara, Katsina and Benue states, describing them as “barbaric, senseless, and a direct assault on the collective conscience of the nation.”
Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, also condemned the incident, calling it a “pure massacre,” and confirmed that the victims had been buried.
In response to the violence, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordered the deployment of an army battalion to Kwara State to reinforce ongoing security operations.
