Porous borders, insufficient patrols: Police can’t end VIP protection – IGP Egbetokun

…Says officers attached to VIPs done deception volition beryllium withdrawn

By Kingsley Omonobi

Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has said the Nigeria Police Force cannot wholly halt the deployment of officers to support Very Important Personalities (VIPs) and backstage individuals, stressing that immoderate categories of radical indispensable beryllium secured.

“We cannot bash distant wholly with protecting our VIPs. These are employers of labour, owners of industries who wage thousands of workers, and apical authorities functionaries. The ones we are withdrawing officers from are those who utilized deception to get our men,” helium said.

Egbetokun stated this successful Abuja connected Thursday during a gathering with Border Patrol Squadron Commanders, wherever helium admitted that the force’s manpower is overstretched arsenic galore officers are attached to VIPs alternatively of borderline security.

Highlighting Nigeria’s “vast and complex” borders spanning implicit 4,000km of onshore boundaries and agelong maritime corridors, the IGP warned that porous borders person fueled the inflow of arms, contraband, quality trafficking, and infiltration by terrorists.

He urged borderline commanders to spot themselves arsenic “guardians of Nigeria’s doors,” stressing:

“A location without a doorway is simply a structure for strangers. Our borders are Nigeria’s doors. If they are weak, each information walks successful freely. If they are strong, our children tin slumber soundly.”

Citing the 2024 interception of a instrumentality from Turkey carrying implicit 800 rifles and 100,000 rounds of ammunition, helium said quality and collaboration stay captious successful borderline policing.

Egbetokun emphasized the request for synergy with Customs, Immigration, Armed Forces, and different information agencies, adding that criminals present usage blase tools similar drones, forged documents, and encrypted networks.

“We cannot combat 21st-century transgression with 20th-century tools. Technology—surveillance systems, drones, biometric scanners, and information analysis—are necessities, not luxuries,” helium said.

The IGP besides pledged improved payment for officers, promising amended tools, mobility, housing, and insurance. “We cannot inquire you to springiness your champion if your payment is neglected. As agelong arsenic I lead, I volition proceed to combat for your welfare,” helium assured.

The station Porous borders, insufficient patrols: Police can’t extremity VIP extortion – IGP Egbetokun appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.