DSS Officers Seek VIP Escort Roles After Police Recall

Following President Bola Tinubu’s order to withdraw police officers attached to VIPs and politicians, some officers of the Department of State Services have started reaching out to influential Nigerians in a bid to replace the withdrawn escorts. The move comes as many top officials and business figures search for alternative security arrangements.

The President had directed that police personnel be pulled from VIP duties as part of efforts to address rising insecurity across the country. He also approved that operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps take over VIP protection where necessary. Shortly after, the Inspector-General of Police announced that over 11,500 officers had been redeployed from escort duties to core policing roles.

In the days that followed, prominent Nigerians reportedly began contacting the NSCDC and private security firms for protection. At the same time, some DSS officers were said to be quietly approaching VIPs, asking them to speak to state directors to secure their deployment as personal guards. Some of these approaches were made directly, while others were routed through family members or aides.

A senior DSS source said the officers seeking such postings were mostly junior personnel, noting that the service operates under strict rules. According to the source, only limited categories of officials, such as governors and the Presidency, are entitled to DSS protection under existing guidelines, and recent reforms have reduced informal postings.

Another DSS officer explained that protecting high-profile individuals falls within the agency’s mandate, but stressed that any deployment must follow laid-down procedures. He warned officers against desperate attempts to secure postings, adding that attachment to VIPs is not automatic.

Meanwhile, private security companies say the President’s directive has led to a sharp rise in requests for escorts. Several operators confirmed that demand for protection, especially for interstate travel, has increased nationwide. Some firms said requests have more than doubled, even though most private guards are not allowed to carry firearms unless working in partnership with licensed agencies.

Security providers noted that many VIPs still prefer to move with trained personnel rather than travel alone, despite the absence of armed police escorts. Some companies disclosed that they have been advised on how to request armed support from the NSCDC where needed.

On the legislative front, the Senate has denied any plan to seek special security arrangements for its members. A spokesperson for the upper chamber said lawmakers have not discussed collective protection and that each senator is expected to follow existing procedures if personal security is required. He added that the President’s security directive applies equally to all public officials.

The Nigeria Forest Security Service also weighed in on the issue, warning that any attack on a senior public office holder could heighten tension across the country. The group said insecurity must be tackled at its roots, particularly in forested areas, while calling for stronger government backing to improve capacity.

As the police redeployment continues, security agencies and private firms are adjusting to the changing landscape, with many VIPs still seeking reassurance amid ongoing safety concerns nationwide.