Police Escort Withdrawal: “Tinubu should be held responsible if any lawmaker gets harmed” – Reps member
House of Representatives member Clement Jimbo has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive ordering the withdrawal of police officers from VIP security duty.
He warned that the policy exposes lawmakers and politicians to heightened danger, especially those representing Northern constituencies.
Speaking on Channels TV’s The Morning Brief, the Akwa Ibom lawmaker said the order puts politicians directly at risk. He stated that pulling police personnel away from VIP protection leaves many public officers vulnerable in regions already dealing with insecurity.
Jimbo, who represents Abak, Etim Ekpo and Ika Federal Constituency under the APC, argued that the government’s primary responsibility is the security and welfare of citizens.
He cited Sections 12 and 14 of the Constitution, stressing that the federal government must not fail in this obligation. He added that if any lawmaker is harmed as a result of this directive, President Tinubu should be held accountable.
Jimbo urged the president to reverse the order immediately and instead formalise VIP security services through a regulated system.
The lawmaker proposed recruiting at least 15,000 youths into the police or establishing a private security unit dedicated to VIP protection.
He noted that many public figures already pay for their security personnel and argued that Nigeria could generate a minimum of ₦20 trillion annually from a properly structured VIP protection service.
Jimbo also dismissed the idea that only politicians qualify as VIPs, he insisted that every Nigerian who requires protection should have access to paid security services.
President Tinubu issued the withdrawal directive on 23 November. The Special Protection Unit has begun implementation following an audit that revealed 11,566 police officers were assigned to VIP duty.
Although the Senate appealed for certain exemptions, Tinubu maintained that the redeployment is not negotiable and instructed the NSA, the Minister of Police Affairs and the Inspector General of Police to enforce compliance.
