The Anambra State Police Command has raised concerns over what it described as a growing trend of security operatives concealing their identities while providing protection to Very Important Personalities (VIPs) in the state.
In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by the command’s spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, it warned that although security duties may sometimes require tactical discretion, masking identities without proper authorisation poses serious risks to public safety and accountability.
“The Command notes that while security duties often require tactical discretion, the act of masking identities without proper authorization raises significant security concerns,” the statement said.
The police said such practices could undermine trust and weaken coordination among security agencies, while also creating opportunities for criminal elements to operate under the guise of legitimate security personnel.
Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, stressed the importance of identifiable personnel in ensuring effective and coordinated security operations.
“The use of masks by operatives, particularly in non-operational or public-facing assignments such as VIP protection, makes it difficult to verify legitimacy and could be exploited by criminal elements to perpetrate unlawful acts under the guise of security duties,” the statement said.
The Commissioner therefore urged all security agencies operating in Anambra State to ensure that their personnel remain properly identified at all times, except during clearly defined tactical operations approved by the appropriate authorities.
The Command reaffirmed its commitment to professionalism, accountability, and maintaining public trust in the discharge of its duties.
In November 2025, President Bola Tinubu ordered the withdrawal of police officers from VIP security duties, directing that they return to core policing functions.
Tinubu gave the order during a high-level security meeting in Abuja with police, military, and the Department of State Services (DSS) chiefs.
All police officers attached to Very Important Persons (VIPs) and special beats nationwide were to be withdrawn immediately and redeployed to regular policing duties.
VIPs requiring security escorts were told to seek personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) instead. The Presidency emphasised that the decision was aimed at strengthening police presence in communities and tackling rising insecurity.
Some elites and politicians expressed unease, claiming the withdrawal left them vulnerable in a country where kidnapping and targeted attacks are common.
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