IGP orders immediate redeployment of Aso Rock police

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) has approved the immediate demobilisation and redeployment of police officers attached to the No. 24 Police Mobile Force (PMF) Presidential Escort at the State House, Abuja, to their respective state commands nationwide.

The directive was contained in a police signal dated December 16, 2025, with reference number CH:5660/WEL/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.96, and was issued by the Department of Finance and Administration (Welfare) at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

The signal was addressed to the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, Assistant Inspectors-General overseeing PMF and zonal commands, as well as Commissioners of Police across the federation, directing that the movement of the affected officers be carried out without delay.

According to the directive, the redeployment affects officers assigned to close protection duties at the Presidential Villa.

The officers are to return from Abuja to their various state commands, including Adamawa, Kebbi, Kaduna, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Bayelsa, Cross River, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, and the Federal Capital Territory.

Others are to be redeployed to Imo, Jigawa, Kogi, Kano, Katsina, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Ondo, Osun, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba, and Yobe states, as well as police zones such as Zone 1 (Kano), Zone 3 (Yola), and Zone 7 (Abuja).

Copies of the signal were forwarded to the Chief Personal Security Officer to the President, the Commander of No. 24 PMF, Abuja, and various police formations nationwide.

The redeployment is in line with a directive issued by President Bola Tinubu in November, ordering the withdrawal of police officers from VIP escort and guard duties. The President had directed that the officers be reassigned to core policing responsibilities to strengthen internal security across the country.

Following the directive, enforcement measures have been put in place, including the deployment of special police teams to ensure compliance and the use of civil defence officers to replace the withdrawn police escorts.