The Acting Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, plans to withdraw Police Mobile Force (PMF) personnel who are currently on VIP and escort guard duties, as they are needed for more critical assignments. He talks of forming a new Special Intervention Squad comprising 40,000 elite officers to tackle the security challenges facing the country.
The IGP made this known at a meeting with heads of police tactical units in Abuja on Monday. He said that he will review the deployment of PMF personnel and redeploy them to where they are most needed. He said that the PMF personnel and other tactical units will form the new squad, which 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.
Egbetokun said that the new squad will boost the capacity of the police to respond swiftly and decisively to security threats, ensuring that their presence is felt and their response is effective in every corner of the country.
He said 1,000 personnel from the 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.
The IGP said that the withdrawal of mobile police from VIPs and the formation of the new squad are part of a series of operational strategies aimed at strengthening the capabilities of the police to effectively deliver their mandates. He said that his objective is to assess, discuss and implement crucial operational strategies that will enhance the law enforcement capabilities and safeguard the lives and property of citizens. He said that he is determined to regain the pride of place of the police in the internal security architecture of the country.
