The Federal Government has withdrawn the Mobile Police Force personnel attached to several Very Important Persons (VIPs), including ex-governors, former ministers and lawmakers.

The order was contained in a police wireless message from Mopol 45 Force Headquarters, Abuja, and affected Daura Buhari, brother to former President Muhammadu Buhari as well as former First Lady Aisha Buhari’s sibling and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.

The development came a few weeks after the Inspector-General of Police (IG), Olukayode Egbetokun, vowed to withdraw Police Mobile Force personnel from VIP escort and guard duties. He had also announced plans to establish the Special Intervention Squad, which according to him, would have 40,000 highly trained police officers, including selected officers from the Police Mobile Force.

Egbetokun said the withdrawal of PMF personnel from VIP escort and guard duties was necessary to allow the police to take back its place in the “internal security architecture” of the country. He said the move would also free more police personnel to focus on core police duties like investigations and patrols.

The VIPs affected by the withdrawal order include former governors of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim and Rochas Okorocha; former governor of Bauchi, Adamu Muazu; ex-Gombe State governor, Danjuma Goje and former governors of Ogun and Zamfara, Gbenga Daniel and Bello Matawalle, respectively among others.

The Force headquarters, in its order with reference CB: 4001/DOPS/45PMF/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.15/353 signed by the AIG MOPOL, directed the addressees to immediately implement the directive.

The message was addressed to DSPs Lauretta Iruonagbe; Yusuf Ishaq; Okeme Emmanuel; Ilesanmi Temidayo; Emmanuel Akaniro; Yakubu Francis; Chindo Atege; Zakari Mohammed and ASPs Osori Sani; Job Andrew; Iyabo Oluwadamilola, and Yakubu Anthony who are believed to be attached to some of the affected dignitaries.