Much as we need extra hands to combat terrorists, we should not leave certain flanks uncovered. President Bola Tinubu has ordered that policemen attached to public figures and senior officers be withdrawn to strengthen frontline forces and protect society at large.
The withdrawal has already begun.
Policemen and women attached to senators and high court justices have been recalled. Those affected are understandably expressing concern over how vulnerable they have become without security aides during this period of heightened and persistent insecurity.
Public and career functionaries who are socially and politically exposed should be exempt from the withdrawal of their security details.
We cannot afford to create more serious problems while attempting to solve one. The work of justices is particularly high-risk. They preside over cases involving criminals and rule on charges brought before them.
The point is that certain categories of public functionaries still require visible protection—both for their safety and for the confident discharge of their duties. What should be done is for the National Assembly to fast-track the necessary constitutional amendment to enable another tier of policing, from which more officers can be deployed to protect public officials and citizens.
The withdrawal directive requires a rethink. Our insecurity challenge cannot be resolved without state police. Legislators across the Assemblies must now see that incorporating state police into our security architecture—for both the powerful and the ordinary—is simply a matter of common sense.
