The Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has called for the withdrawal of police officers assigned to the National Assembly.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Thursday, Ndume praised President Bola Tinubu’s recent directive to remove police escorts from very important persons and urged that it be implemented effectively.
He, however, expressed disappointment after observing a continued heavy police presence at the National Assembly despite the Inspector General of Police’s announcement that over 11,000 police officers were recalled from VIPs following Tinubu’s order.
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“I thought today I would not see so many police in the National Assembly, but there are still crowded policemen at the National Assembly,” he said. “So I don’t know what the IGP is talking about.”
Asked if police details should be withdrawn from the National Assembly, including those attached to senators and members of the House of Representatives, the lawmaker replied, “Everybody.”
“If you secure Abuja, why do you need police attached to personalities?” he asked.
Ndume criticised the misuse of police resources by politicians and their families, arguing that reallocating officers to public safety could make Abuja as secure as neighbouring capitals like Abidjan and Accra.
“Some of our colleagues, some ministers have police attached to their wives. What is their business with that? Have police attached to their children? I saw some people. I don’t want to mention the name, but one of these politically exposed persons, his own son, who is matured, I mean, is moving with the convoy.”
Ndume argued that securing the capital would eliminate the need for such extensive personal protection, drawing comparisons to neighbouring countries.
“If you secure Abuja… the President can even drive around Nigeria,” he said. “Recently I travelled to Abidjan [Côte d’Ivoire]… it’s safe. You can go around. There is no armed robbery in Côte d’Ivoire and in Ghana, the same thing.”
On November 23, Tinubu instructed the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to immediately recall approximately 100,000 officers from VIP duties and redeploy them to core policing functions.
This move comes amid escalating attacks and abductions by gunmen and suspected terrorists and growing concerns over the overstretching of the police force.
Tinubu on Wednesday also declared a nationwide security emergency. He ordered increased recruitment into the Nigerian Armed Forces and the police force.
“Today, in view of the emerging security situation, I have decided to declare a nationwide security emergency and order additional recruitment into the Armed Forces.
“By this declaration, the police and the army are authorised to recruit more personnel. The police will recruit an additional 20,000 officers, bringing the total to 50,000,” Tinubu said in a personally signed statement.
Culled from The Punch
