Inspector-General Kayode Egbetokun has withdrawn police orderlies attached to some politically-exposed persons across Nigeria, according to a recent memo seen by a Newspaper.
The July 12 signal from the Force Headquarters mobile police section listed those affected as including former governors, senators, ministers and family members of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
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Those on the list include former Imo governor, Ikedi Ohakim; former cabinet secretary to President Muhammadu Buhari, Boss Mustapha; former Bauchi governor, Adamu Mu’Azu; former Imo governor, Rochas Okorocha; former Gombe governor, Danjuma Goje; former Ogun governor Gbenga Daniel; and former Zamfara governor, Bello Matawalle.
Others are former police affairs minister, Maigari Dingyadi; former petroleum minister Timipre Sylva; former senator Haliru Jika; former budget minister, Clem Ikanade Agba; former Peoples Democratic Party chairman, Iyorchia Ayu; former House member Rabiu Lawan and former senator Stephen Adey on the list.
The memo also said some people should be withdrawn without specifically providing their full names. It was unclear whether this was an error or deliberate. A spokesman for the police did not immediately answer a request seeking clarification.
The signal only described others as a former science and technology minister, former National Assembly clerk, a former power minister, a brother to Aisha Buhari and a brother to former President Buhari, who was only identified as Daura.
The directive came weeks after Mr Egbetokun said police officers would be withdrawn from so-called VIPs across the country. But he did not specifically mention names, and the politicians continued to use their officers.
A check by The Gazette on Sunday did not indicate that even the latest July 12 written directive had been complied with, as some of the politicians said their orderlies had not been withdrawn.
Successive Nigerian inspectors-general have publicly announced the withdrawal of police orderlies from politicians and rich people who could afford to pay for officers, but none had ever been successful. Police reform advocates argued officers attached to politicians and businesspeople often constitute a large chunk of police manpower, leaving the country in a perpetual state of insecurity due to the reduced number of personnel assigned to the protection of neighbourhoods and other critical duties nationwide.