Olukayode Egbetokun, the acting Inspector General of Police, has pledged to initiate the immediate removal of Police Mobile Force personnel from their long-held responsibilities of VIP escort and guard duties. Egbetokun revealed his groundbreaking plan to establish the Special Intervention Squad, an elite unit of a staggering 40,000 highly trained police officers, carefully handpicked from various divisions including the Police Mobile Force.
The primary objective behind this initiative, as noted by Egbetokun, is to reclaim the rightful position of the police within the framework of the nation’s ‘internal security architecture.’
By deploying highly skilled officers to this newly formed squad, the police force aims to bolster its presence and effectiveness in ensuring the safety and well-being of the populace.
On Monday, Egbetokun addressed a gathering of squadron leaders and tactical commanders in Abuja, expressing his views and sharing vital information.
He said, ‘In a bid to kick-start the process of regaining our pride of place in the internal security architecture of our dear country first and foremost, modalities for the creation of a new special squad – the Special Intervention Squad have been initiated.’
‘This special squad shall consist of 40,000 specially trained elite officers. The Squad will be formed by selecting officers from the pool of existing Police Mobile Force personnel and all tactical units in the country.’
‘These officers will undergo an intensive pre-deployment training to make them combat-ready for frontline operational duties in all the states of the Federation, with a particular focus on areas plagued with unrest and turmoil.’
‘By pooling together the expertise and experience of our PMF personnel and other tactical units, we can establish a formidable force that is well-equipped to handle the evolving challenges we face.’
He further stated that the formation of this squad would greatly enhance the police force’s ability to swiftly address and counter security threats.
Notably, he mentioned that a total of 1,000 well-trained personnel would be strategically deployed to each state, to ensure quick response in cases of emergency.
Egbetokun added, ‘This dedicated force will bolster our capacity to respond swiftly and decisively to security threats, ensuring that our presence is felt and our response is effective in every corner of our country. 1000 personnel from this new squad will be deployed to every state of the Federation for immediate operations as standby intervention units, while more troubled spots or zones will receive the remaining officers out of the 40,000.’
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‘These officers will not perform routine police duties but will be housed and kept combat-ready at all times engaging in daily training readiness for deployments to intercept and neutralize high-profile criminals and those terrorizing our communities. ‘
The police chief declared that the recently formed specialised force would possess the necessary expertise and abilities to tackle emerging criminal activities, insurgency, and various security risks, particularly those presented by non-state actors.
Egbetokun made it known that the PMF officers who were leaving would be replaced by officers from the Special Protection Unit.
He added, ‘We shall effect the withdrawal of PMF personnel from VIP escort/guard duties. While the protection of dignitaries remains paramount, it is imperative that we realign our priorities to address the escalating security challenges faced by the nation as a whole. By relieving the PMF of VIP escort and guard duties, we can redirect their focus and efforts toward addressing critical security concerns that affect our communities at large.’
‘To support the foregoing strategic plan and make needed manpower available for frontline duties, the withdrawn PMF officers will be replaced by officers of the Special Protection Unit only where necessary.’
According to Egbetokun, a special committee led by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police (Operations) had been established to evaluate and provide recommendations on the smooth implementation of the strategy.
He further stated that the committee is anticipated to deliver its report within a duration of two weeks.