President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday in Abuja said the directive to redeploy police officers working with VIPs, VVIPs and ministers was not negotiable, admonishing all ministers to ensure immediate compliance.

Speaking at the opening of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in the State House Council Chamber, the President warned against non-compliance.

“If you have any problem because of the nature of your assignments, please contact the IGP and get my clearance,” he said.

President Tinubu directed the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, Minister of Police Affairs, Sen Ibrahim Gaidam, and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egebtokun, to follow up on the implementation of the order.

The President noted that police officers were trained to protect the lives and property of citizens, particularly the most vulnerable in society, and the protection of a select group of VIPs and VVIPs was not their responsibility.

President Tinubu said the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, will make arrangements for the replacement of police officers by the Civil Defence Corps.

“The National Security and Civil Defence Corps are trained for VIP protection, and they are armed too,” he added.

The President noted that the police would be mobilised appropriately to tackle the country’s security challenges.

He said the entire structure will be reviewed to better address vulnerable citizens and communities.

“We face challenges here and there of Kidnapping, banditry and terrorism. We need all forces utilised. I know some people are exposed; we will make the exceptions. The Civil Defence is very much around,” the President stated.

President Tinubu said ministers should meet the Inspector General of Police and get his clearance for special assignments that require police protection.

“NSA take this very seriously,” he added.

The President also urged the Vice President Kashim Shettima, who is the Chairman of the National Economic Council (NEC), to further sensitise governors and other stakeholders on the implementation of the reforms on ranching.

President Tinubu directed the Minister, Idi Muktar Maiha, to commence the mobilisation process, with particular emphasis on areas facing conflict.

“The Minister of Livestock, see which village or grazing area can be rehabilitated for ranching. We must eliminate this area of conflict and make the livestock reform economically viable.

“The opportunity is there, let’s utilise it. You should emphasise the constitutional requirement that the land belongs to the state,” he added.

The President said villages and communities facing conflicts must be salvaged.

The President noted that implementing ranching will reduce conflicts between herders and farmers and attacks on the most vulnerable members of society.

Former Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has revealed that during the protest against police brutality in 2020, popularly known as EndSars, his family members met and asked him to resign.

Mohammed made this disclosure on Wednesday when he appeared as a guest in an interview on ‘Prime Time’, a programme on Arise Television monitored by Ekwutosblog.

He was reacting to his book, ‘Headlines and Soundbites: Media Moments that Defined an Administration.’

“Nigerian contemporary history would not be fully understood unless those who have been inside are allowed and encouraged to tell their own stories.

“This kind of book is actually for posterity. It’s to educate the public. It is also to inspire future leaders, because it’s not just about successes. There are some failures. Just a challenge for instance, like in this book, during the EndSars, some of the toughest moments in my life, when my family met, they had a meeting and asked me to resign.

The Federal Government says kidnapping has grown from a small-scale crime into a major source of funding for criminal and terror groups across Nigeria.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ workshop of the Multi-Agency Kidnap Fusion Cell in Abuja, the National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre, Maj. Gen. Adamu Laka, explained that money from kidnappings is helping armed groups buy weapons, maintain operations, and even control territory in some areas.

According to him, the new initiative is aimed at improving coordination, intelligence sharing, and joint operations to curb kidnapping nationwide.

Laka said: “Nigeria continues to face serious security challenges driven by terrorism, banditry, separatist agitation, and clashes between farmers and herders. A common thread in all these is the widespread use of kidnapping.”

He added that kidnapping, once a minor criminal act, has now become a persistent and destabilising enterprise, enabling these groups to procure logistics, perpetuate terror, and in some cases, exert territorial control.

Laka explained that increasing concerns at home and abroad led to a partnership between the Nigerian and UK governments, resulting in the creation of the Multi-Agency Kidnap Fusion Cell.

The centre, launched on 19 December 2024, coordinates nationwide operations against kidnapping and supports Nigeria’s goal of becoming a regional hub for counterterrorism.

He said the Cell has been successful, generating intelligence that helped rescue hostages and disrupt kidnap gangs across the country.

To improve results at the state level, the NCTC also organized a training program in July 2025 for Anti-Kidnap Commanders of the police and DSS from all 36 states and the FCT.

Despite progress, Laka noted that more groups need to be involved, including the media, telecom companies, and social media platforms.

He called on participants to bring forward practical ideas to help rescue victims, break kidnap networks, and protect communities.

Acting British High Commissioner, Gill Lever said the UK government is impressed with the centre’s achievements and will keep supporting Nigeria’s counterterrorism and anti-kidnapping efforts.

Also speaking, Head of the UK’s National Crime Agency, Chris Gibson, said strong cooperation among key agencies is vital. He urged Nigerians to back government efforts, stressing that anti-kidnapping is a responsibility of every citizen.