IGP orders withdrawal of mobile police officers from VIPs

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the withdrawal of mobile police officers from VIPs across the country.

The directive is contained in a statement on Tuesday, issued by the spokesman for the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Muyiwa Adejobi.

He said the move was part of the reorganisation of the Police Mobile Force (PMF).

“He expressed concern over the diversion of PMF personnel to non-core roles, including escort and guard duties for private individuals and VIPs, a trend which has undermined the unit’s effectiveness,” the statement read.

“To address this, the IGP has announced a series of measures including the immediate withdrawal of PMF personnel from unauthorized deployments, regular quarterly training focused on ethics and professionalism, and mandatory standby of fully equipped, combat-ready units across all Squadrons for rapid tactical support.”

According to the IGP, all PMF Commanders will be held accountable for the conduct of their personnel.

The IGP however urged them to lead proactively through regular training, inspections, and mentorship aimed at upholding discipline, respect for human rights, and operational excellence.

THE IGP’S FULL STATEMENT BELOW:

PRESS RELEASE

INTERNAL SECURITY: IGP REORGANIZES POLICE MOBILE FORCE FOR EFFECTIVENESS

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olukayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, has announced the immediate reorganization of the Police Mobile Force (PMF) as part of efforts to strengthen internal security and enhance operational readiness. The directive was unveiled during a conference with PMF Squadron Commanders at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, on Tuesday, 22nd April, 2025.

The IGP emphasized the need to reposition the PMF in line with its original mandate as the Nigeria Police Force’s elite strike unit, designed to respond swiftly to riots, emergencies, and violent threats.

He expressed concern over the diversion of PMF personnel to non-core roles, including escort and guard duties for private individuals and VIPs, a trend which has undermined the unit’s effectiveness.

To address this, the IGP has announced a series of measures including the immediate withdrawal of PMF personnel from unauthorized deployments, regular quarterly training focused on ethics and professionalism, and mandatory standby of fully equipped, combat-ready units across all Squadrons for rapid tactical support.

The IGP also declared that PMF Commanders will be held accountable for the conduct of their personnel and urged them to lead proactively through regular training, inspections, and mentorship aimed at upholding discipline, respect for human rights, and operational excellence.

Reaffirming the Force’s commitment to restoring the PMF to its rightful role as a disciplined and dependable tactical arm, the IGP highlighted plans to introduce new leadership strategies and capacity-building initiatives designed to meet modern security challenges and align with global best practices.

The Inspector-General of Police while extending appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his support, acknowledged the critical contributions of the Force’s international partners in enhancing training and technical capacity.

The IGP charged all PMF Squadron Commanders to embrace the reform as a professional and moral responsibility, reiterating that the Nigeria Police Force remains committed to its mandate of safeguarding lives, property, and national security.

ACP OLUMUYIWA ADEJOBI, mnipr, mipra, fCAI,

FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER

FORCE HEADQUARTERS

ABUJA.

Tinubu returns to Nigeria after France, UK trip

President Bola Tinubu has returned Nigeria after his working visit to France and the UK.

Tinubu was received by senior officials of his administration when he arrived at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Monday night.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu returns to Abuja after a visit to Paris and London,” presidential aide Dada Olusegun wrote in a post on his X handle.

Some of the officials who were at the airport to welcome Tinubu are the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume; the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu; and the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

The President left for Paris, the French capital, on April 2 for a “short working visit,” according to presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga.

Onanuga said during the visit, the president will review his administration’s feats.

But his recent travel has divided opinions among Nigerians, especially in the wake of renewed killings in some parts of the country, particularly in Plateau and Benue states.

Leaders of the opposition, including Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s  Atiku Abubakar, were vocal in their criticisms of the president’s continued stay in Europe despite the crushing wave of insecurity ravaging the country.

However, the presidency stoutly defended Tinubu’s trip, saying the Nigerian leader did not travel to seek medical care as speculated in some quarters.

“Sometimes on social media, somebody will be tweeting, you don’t even know who the person is; it can be somebody who has mental health issues somewhere,” presidential spokesman Daniel Bwala said on an edition of Channels Television’s Politics Today.

“You just see that information is coming out. “The president did not go to see a doctor; he’s on a working visit and we have been publishing his activities”.

Pope Francis died of stroke, says Vatican 

The Vatican on Monday said Pope Francis died of a stroke that causing a coma and “irreversible” heart failure.

This is contained in his death certificate, which it released shortly after announcing his passing.

The 88-year-old Catholic leader died on Monday morning, almost a month after having been discharged from five weeks in hospital where he nearly succumbed to double pneumonia.

Francis died at 7.35 am (0535 GMT) in his apartment at the Santa Marta residence in the Vatican. He died of “cerebral stroke, coma, irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse”, the death certificate said.

The pontiff had already been affected by a previous episode of acute respiratory failure when he had double pneumonia in hospital, it added.

He had also suffered from arterial hypertension, multiple bronchiectasis and Type 2 diabetes — something that was not previously known.

It was signed by the director of health of the Vatican City State, professor Andrea Arcangeli.

AFP