Following President Bola Tinubu’s executive order to withdraw Nigeria Police Force personnel from Very Important Persons (VIPs), a new scramble for protection has emerged. Findings by Hobnob News reveal that some officers of the Department of State Services (DSS) have begun lobbying influential Nigerians for private escort roles, while the private security sector is experiencing an unprecedented surge in patronage.
The Presidential directive, issued on November 24, aimed to redeploy over 11,000 police officers to frontline duties to combat kidnapping and terrorism. In their stead, the President mandated the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to handle VIP protection.
Secret Lobbying Within the DSS
Despite the official transition to the NSCDC, some DSS operatives are reportedly viewing the police exit as an opportunity to secure “juicy” postings.
A top executive at a federal revenue-generating agency in Lagos told Hobnob News that DSS officers have approached him twice, requesting that he use his influence with their State Director to have them deployed as his new security detail.
“The policemen attached to me were withdrawn last week. These DSS officers are showing up and presenting themselves as alternatives. They are known persons to me, so they must have seen this place as a juicy area,” the executive disclosed.
Similarly, sources in Osogbo, Osun State, confirmed that DSS personnel have approached the family of a prominent religious leader and businessman to lobby for deployment.
However, a senior DSS official clarified that these moves are largely confined to the “lower cadre.” He noted that the current Director-General, Adeola Ajayi, has strictly prohibited arbitrary postings, mandating that officers above Level 13 are generally reserved for State House or gubernatorial duties.
Private Security Demand Hits Record High
The vacuum left by the police has triggered a massive spike in the private security market. Industry leaders report that VIPs are now turning to licensed firms to “stand in the gap,” even if those guards are primarily unarmed.
Anselm Ozueh, Managing Director of Chogon Private Security Company Ltd, described the surge as “unprecedented.”
* Demand Spike: Requests for escorts have jumped from a 20% average to 70%.
* Intelligence over Arms: Ozueh noted that clients now prioritize bodyguards or “intelligence-based” escorts to help ward off threats, even without rifles.
Island Anyasi, Managing Director of Sheriff Deputies, added that while demand has doubled, the NSCDC—the government’s designated alternative—appears “overwhelmed” and “ill-prepared” to fill the massive gap left by the police recall.
Senate and Forest Guards Weigh In
The Senate has dismissed rumors of a collective plan to seek special protection for lawmakers. Senate spokesperson Yemi Adaramodu insisted that senators are expected to follow the presidential guidelines by individually approaching the NSCDC for their needs.
“There is no reason for senators to panic. Besides, there are ongoing plans to recruit about 50,000 more officers into the police force,” Adaramodu stated.
In contrast, Joshua Osatimehin, Commander General of the Nigeria Forest Security Service, warned of the optics of the current policy. He argued that if a high-profile individual like a Minister or Senator were to be abducted due to reduced security, it would create a national panic.
“If a senator can be kidnapped, what hope does an ordinary Nigerian have? The only solution is to tackle insecurity at its roots—the forests—and officially commission groups like ours with sophisticated weapons,” Osatimehin argued.
