‘I am afraid, we are the next target’: Nigerian senator begs Tinubu not to withdraw police escorts from VIPs

The lawmaker representing Sokoto North Senatorial District, Senator Aliyu Wamakko, has warned President Bola Tinubu against withdrawing Police protection from Very Important Personalities (VIPs) in the country.

Wamakko made this submission while speaking on the floor of the Senate during plenary on Wednesday. According to him, the withdrawal of police officers providing security to VIPs would expose them to danger and subject them to the targets of criminals.

Recall that President Tinubu recently directed that the police escorts attached to VIPs in the country be withdrawn in response to the wave of attacks by terrorists and bandits.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, the directive formed part of the resolutions reached during the President’s high-level security meeting with Service Chiefs in Abuja.

Onanuga said the move is aimed at restoring the police to their “core duties” and improving their presence in communities grappling with insecurity.

The directive explained that VIPs seeking armed security escorts must now apply to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

Reacting to the development, the former Governor of Sokoto State argued that withdrawing Police protection from VIPs is another danger on its own, and the President should reconsider the directive.

I have to disagree with the idea of withdrawing police from VIPs, that is another danger because the VIPs are going to be the next target,” he said.

Speaking on the rising wave of attacks in the country, the lawmaker said the government must stop acceding to the demands of the terrorists and bandits, but rather go after them and flush them out of their hiding places.

Wamako further noted that negotiating or paying ransom would embolden the criminals to continue in their evil ways.

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There have been calls for the withdrawal of the policemen attached to VIPs in the country following the security issues Nigeria has been grappling with in recent years. However, some sections of Nigerians believe that the President’s directive will not be followed through.

Should VIPs’ safety be more important than that of ordinary citizens? Let us know what you think in the comment section below.