Four Police officers reportedly on VIP duties arrested
Four Police officers reportedly on VIP duties arrested
The military has apprehended four police officers accused of illegally providing escort services to a VIP, in defiance of a presidential directive banning police involvement in such duties.
Security source, Zagazola Makama, said the arrest was carried out on December 17 at about 9:30 a.m. while the officers were allegedly on an escort assignment.
Those taken into custody were identified as Assistant Superintendent of Police Musa Waziri and Inspector Jeremiah Achimogu, both attached to the 45 Police Mobile Force (PMF) in Abuja; Inspector Awipi Terry of 21 PMF; and Inspector Hassan Baba of 50 PMF, also based in Abuja.
The officers were reportedly intercepted by military personnel after being found to have violated the order withdrawing police operatives from VIP protection roles.
Sources further revealed that the suspects were allegedly dressed in uniforms resembling those of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), a move believed to be aimed at avoiding detection and misleading security operatives.
The arrested policemen are currently being held, while disciplinary actions have been commenced against them in accordance with existing regulations.
The Federal Government had earlier directed the immediate removal of police officers from unauthorised VIP escort duties, stressing that personnel should instead be redeployed to strengthen core policing and internal security operations nationwide.
