The Federal Government has ordered the immediate withdrawal and redeployment of officers of the Nigeria Police Force previously assigned to VIP escort duties, in a move aimed at strengthening frontline security nationwide.

Announcing the decision on Friday, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the force had executed a large-scale redeployment of personnel away from private protection roles and back to public safety operations.

“Further strengthening the security architecture, the Nigeria Police Force has executed a large-scale redeployment of officers previously assigned to VIP escort duties nationwide,” he said.

The shift follows a deadly terrorist attack in Kwara State in which at least 75 villagers were killed.

For years, the use of police personnel for private VIP protection has drawn criticism. Mr. Idris said the latest redeployment seeks to correct that imbalance by returning thousands of officers to their core mandate of community policing. He confirmed that the affected personnel have already been integrated into frontline security structures.

States receiving immediate reinforcements include Kwara, Plateau, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, and the Federal Capital Territory.

Security has also been stepped up around places of worship, with increased police presence during Sunday services, in coordination with community and faith leaders.

Idris said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s counter-terrorism strategy remains Nigerian-led and sovereignty-driven. However, the government remains open to strategic cooperation, including intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance support from partners such as the United States, where such collaboration aligns with national interests.

He added that the administration remains committed to restoring peace and ensuring that all Nigerians can live and worship freely without fear.

Gunmen attacked the Woro community and the neighbouring Nuku area in Kwara North at about 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, killing at least 75 people. The assailants set shops ablaze, torched the residence of a traditional ruler, and forced many residents to flee into nearby bushes.

The Northern States Governors’ Forum condemned the killings in Kwara, Katsina, and Benue states, describing them as “barbaric, senseless, and a direct assault on the collective conscience of the nation”.

Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, described the incident as a “pure massacre”, confirming that the victims had been buried.

In response, President Tinubu has ordered the deployment of an army battalion to Kwara State to reinforce security operations.