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JUST IN: IG withdraws mobile policemen from ex-govs, ministers, VIPs

The Federal Government has withdrawn the Mobile Police Force personnel attached to several Very Important Persons, including ex-governors, former ministers and lawmakers.
The order, which was contained in a police wireless message from Mopol 45 Force Headquarters, Abuja, affected Daura Buhari, brother to former President Muhammadu Buhari as well as former First Lady, Aisha Buhari’s sibling and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.
The development came a few weeks after the IG vowed to withdraw Police Mobile Force personnel from VIP escort and guard duties.
He had also announced plans to establish the Special Intervention Squad, which according to him, would have 40,000 highly trained police officers including selected officers from the Police Mobile Force.
This, the IG said, was to allow the police to take back its place in the “internal security architecture” of the country.
Egbetokun, who spoke during a meeting with Squadron leaders and Tactical Commanders in Abuja, on June 26, stated, “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.
“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 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.”
Egbetokun set up a committee headed by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police (Operations), Adeleke Bode, to assess and advise on how the new policies could be implemented seamlessly.
The committee submitted
Recall that thousands of police operatives were attached to public officials, ex-political officer holders, businessmen and other private individuals, thus reducing the number of police personnel required to protect the public while fewer officers were available for core police duties like investigations and patrols.
Though previous IGs had withdrawn the police orderlies deployed to protect some politicians in the past, the cops found their way back to the VIPs.
Statutorily, only the president, vice president, governors, local council chairmen, legislative principal officers in the states and at federal level, magistrates and judges are entitled to police protection.
But this privilege has over the years been extended to just about anybody who can pay, leaving ever fewer personnel for real police work.
However, the Force headquarters in its order with reference CB: 4001/DOPS/45PMF/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.15/353 signed by the AIG MOPOL, directed the addressees to implement the directive with immediate effect.
The message was addressed to DSPs Lauretta Iruonagbe; Yusuf Ishaq; Okeme Emmanuel; Ilesanmi Temidayo; Emmanuel Akaniro; Yakubu Francis; Chindo Atege; Zakari Mohammed and ASPs Osori Sani; Job Andrew; Iyabo Oluwadamilola, and Yakubu Anthony who are believed to be attached to some of the affected dignitaries.
VIPs affected by the withdrawal order include former governors of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim and Rochas Okorocha; former governor of Bauchi, Adamu Muazu; ex- Gombe State governor, Danjuma Goje and former governors of Ogun and Zamfara, Gbenga Daniel and Bello Matawalle, respectively.
Similarly, the MOPOL attached to some former ministers who served under the Buhari administration were withdrawn.
They are ex-Minister of Police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi; former Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipreye Sylva; former Minister of State for Mines and Steel, Gbemisola Saraki; former Minister of State for Science, Technology and Innovation, Henry Ikoh; former Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clem Agba and former Minister of State for Power, Goddy Agba.
Also, the orderlies working with the former Chairman Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Haliru Dauda; former Chairman House Committee on Police Affairs, Rabiu Lawan, and Senator Stephen Adey, were equally withdrawn.
The mobile police officers to the suspended National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Iyorchia Ayu were also affected.
The order read in part, “You are directed to withdraw all personnel mine attached to the under-listed politicians: Former governor of Imo state, Ikedi Ohakim; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; former governor of Bauchi, Adamu Muazu; former governor of Imo, Rochas Okorocha; former governor of Gombe State, Danjuma Goje; former governor of Ogun, Gbenga Daniel; former governor of Zamfara, Bello Matawalle; former Minister of Police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi; former Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipreye Sylva; former Clerk of the National Assembly; Aisha Buhari brother; Daura, brother to the former president Buhari ; APC National women leader; former Minister of State for Mines and Steel; former Chairman Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Haliru Dauda; former Minister of State for Science, Technology and Innovation; former Minister of State for Power; National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Iyocha Ayu; former Chairman House Committee on Police Affairs, Rabiu Lawan; Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clem Agba and former Senator Stephen Adey. Treat as very important.”
Reacting to the action of the police authorities, the media aide to Senator Gbenga Daniel, Steve Oliyide, said it was in the power of the IG to determine the security architecture of the country.
Oliyide said, “It is actually within the precinct and powers of the IGP to determine the security architecture for the country and Senator Otunba Gbenga Daniel will support any and every initiative towards strengthening the country’s security system, notwithstanding any temporary discomfort to his personal safety.’’
“Once there are composite security arrangements for the entire country, it also suggests that VIPs too will also be secured, and Senator Daniel has implicit confidence in the capacity of the IGP to provide and make adequate security for all in the circumstance. Where and when the need arises, I am sure he will arrange complimentary security supports,” he added.
The former SGF could not be reached for comment on Sunday as he did not respond to several calls and a message sent to him on WhatsApp.
Also, Matawalle, who was also affected by the new development, was not available for comment. The former Principal Private Secretary to the former governor, Lawal Maradun failed to react on behalf of his principal despite repeated messages sent to his mobile phone number.
Commenting on the development, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Adedayo Adeoye (retd.) commended the IG for making good his word.
He, however, expressed fear that the directives could be truncated by the VIPs.
Adeoye said, “I am in total support of what the IG is doing but my fear is that they will not allow him to complete this. Others have tried it in the past and did not succeed.
‘’He needs the president’s support to implement this to the letter. For me, there should be no special protection unit for anybody. The law provides a guideline for people entitled to police protection. We should follow that.”
A retired Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Ojukwu described the attachment of the mobile police to VIPs as an abuse, adding that the VIPs had denied Nigerians the valuable contributions of the mobile police personnel.
The former force spokesman noted, “The police have what is called a special protection unit for the VIPs to harvest police to protect them. Mobile Police was not created for that. The mobile police is the combatant arm of the police; As a result, the VIPs want the utmost protection; that explains why they have been going for the mobile police.”
A retired FCT Commissioner of Police, Lawrence Alobi, said the withdrawal of mobile police would bolster the security architecture of the country.
He added that the VIPs have nothing to fear as the personnel of the Special Protection Unit are equal to the task.
“Security operations are about the need and the reality on the ground. The IG must have assessed these before giving that order. Also, the primary duty of the government is to secure the lives and properties of the citizens and not only the VIPs,”.
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NNPC’s Olufemi Soneye Emerges NIPR Spokesperson for 2025
Responding, Soneye attributed his recognition by the NIPR with its most exalted spokesperson’s award to the dedication of the entire team at the NNPC.

Soneye (middle) receive NIPR’s prestigious award .
The Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), Mr. Olufemi Soneye, has emerged the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) spokesperson of 2025.Announcing the award, the NIPR described Soneye as a “diligent” spokesperson, characterising him as “a strategist.” Soneye’s capacity to shape public opinion, also stood him out of the crowd of spokespersons, according to the Adjudication Committee, Chairman, Dr. Shaibu Hussein.
Represented by a member of the committee chairman, Lami Tuiaka, the chairman said the moment to the conclusion of the award was rigorous and demanding. He also predicated Soneye’s victory on his communication skills, crisis management and overall impact.
“Our committee comprising communication scholars, Public Relations practitioners, and media personalities worked tirelessly to review the nomination, assess performances and deliberate on the winner.
I must report that we carefully examined each nomination, considering factors such as communication skills, crisis management and overall impact,” he said.
Presenting him the plaque at the National Spokespersons Award 2025, chairman of the event Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Power, Hon. Joshua Audu, said the institute would celebrate Soneye throughout 2025 as the current NIPR spokesperson award winner.
He said: ” On behalf of the NIPR Award Night 2025, I have the honour and privilege to present the Spokesperson of the year 2025. Please join me to celebrate our latest spokesperson that we will celebrate throughout 2025 in the person of Olufemi Soneye.”
Responding, Soneye attributed his recognition by the NIPR with its most exalted spokesperson’s award to the dedication of the entire team at the NNPC.
Amid a standing ovation, he said: “We are all happy and I am deeply honoured to receive this award tonight from NIPR. This award reflects the dedication of our entire team and we want to thank NIPR for all they have been doing.”
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Mission to boldly grow food in space labs blasts off
ESA is funding the research to explore new ways of reducing the cost of feeding an astronaut, which can cost up to £20,000 per day.

Artwork: The experiment will orbit the Earth for three hours before returning to Earth and splashing down off the coast of Portugal.
(BBC): Steak, mashed potatoes and deserts for astronauts could soon be grown from individual cells in space if an experiment launched into orbit today is successful.
A European Space Agency (ESA) project is assessing the viability of growing so-called lab-grown food in the low gravity and higher radiation in orbit and on other worlds.
ESA is funding the research to explore new ways of reducing the cost of feeding an astronaut, which can cost up to £20,000 per day.
The team involved say the experiment is a first step to developing a small pilot food production plant on the International Space Station in two years’ time.
Lab-grown food will be essential if Nasa’s objective of making humanity a multi-planetary species were to be realised, claims Dr Aqeel Shamsul, CEO and founder of Bedford-based Frontier Space, which is developing the concept with researchers at Imperial College, London.
“Our dream is to have factories in orbit and on the Moon,” he told BBC News.
“We need to build manufacturing facilities off world if we are to provide the infrastructure to enable humans to live and work in space”.
News
President Tinubu returns from Europe
The President arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe airport, Abuja, at about 9:50 pm.

President Bola Tinubu last night returned to Abuja after a “working visit to France” that also took him to the United Kingdom (UK).
The President arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe airport, Abuja, at about 9:50 pm.
Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Spokesman, announced on his X handle that the President is back home.
Among those who received the presidency were the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; and the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu.
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