This is coming a week after the Force denied withdrawing mobile police force from top personalities in the country after a leaked memo stated so.

In the aftermath of the denial, there were insinuations in some quarters that the police lacked the will to implement the policy.

However, reacting in a statement on Monday, the Force Spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, said the decision of the police on the withdrawal remained unchanged.

“The Nigeria Police Force hereby addresses recent news circulating regarding the possible reversal of the PMF reform policy and the decision of acting Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to withdraw Police Mobile Force personnel from certain important personalities.

“The Force wishes to clarify that the decision to withdraw PMF personnel from escort and guard duties stands firm. There will be no going back on this critical policy change,” Adejobi said.

He added that the withdrawal process had started with a report by the committee set up on the implementation of the policy.

“The decision to withdraw Police Mobile Force personnel from VIP duties is part of ongoing efforts to optimise the allocation of resources and enhance the efficiency of the Nigeria Police Force in its core mandate of safeguarding the lives and properties of all citizens.

“While poised to ensure a smooth transition, the Nigeria Police Force is committed to providing adequate security arrangements for VIPs who are entitled to such protection,” the police spokesman added.

In a tweet on Sunday, Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, also said officers should stop demanding tinted glass permit.

According to him, tinted glass permit remains suspended across the country.

He tweeted, “No policeman should demand your customs papers. Except they are on joint operation, but not just on mere routine checks.

“We have suspended issuance of tinted glass permits, so we don’t expect our men to disturb Nigerians on this.

“We are to stop any vehicle with tints, search the vehicles, and its occupants, but not to delay for not having tinted glass permits.”

A report by the Auditor-General of the Federation for 2019 revealed that no fewer than 178,459 pieces of armaments were missing from the police armoury without any formal report of their whereabouts.

Out of this figure, 88,078 AK-47 rifles and 3,907 assorted rifles and pistols could not be accounted for as of January 2020, neither were they reported to any higher authority, the report stated.

Speaking with our correspondent on Friday, the force spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, said the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, had directed the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of armoury to investigate the matter.

He noted that the force placed high premium on the issue of arms and ammunition.

Adejobi said, “The issue of arms is a very sensitive thing to us and we don’t toy with it. There are processes for checking arms according to our regulations.On a regular basis, the assistant commissioner of police in charge of operations of every command always checks arms.That number is on the high side; I don’t think we would have lost such a number of weapons. What we need to do is to reconcile our report with the one being quoted. We have our records too.

“I guess there are some arms on loan to various formations. For instance, if a certain number of arms are given to Lagos for special operations, all these movements are always documented but are complex. The IG has directed the AIG armament to come out with a report.”

Adejobi added, “This is a common thing we do internally in the police even without the effort of any external auditor, because arms are very paramount to u

“Because of the sensitive nature of arms and handling of arms, we don’t joke with them. Again, I don’t think we have lost that large number of arms; I think that there might be some gaps somewhere that we need to juxtapose and reconcile our records. There could be some arms that are for safe-keeping.

“For instance, if some men sign for arms in Sokoto and are going for operations in Kastina; when they get to Katisna, there may the need for them to keep their arms in safe-keeping. But the original owners of the arms will just be recorded that their weapon are with someone else.

“If we don’t reconcile that account, you may say the arms are missing in Sokoto. And there are some arms that statutorily are to be signed to individuals as personal pistols.

“It is common saying that it is better for a policeman to die than to lose his arms, because of the problem that will follow.”

He said it would take a while to reconcile because of the large number of police formations and commands.

Adejobi stated, “We are taking our time to reconcile our records. We have many formations that have armouries, including training schools, and we have 37 commands.

“We need some time. We are not saying we have not lost arms; we have lost arms due to attacks; even during operations three days ago, our men were attacked and some rifles were taken away, which we are sure we will recover. We have also recovered a lot.”

The state Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu, with a view to improving security in Lagos, on Wednesday, November 25, parleyed the Inspectors and rank and file cadres of the command on improved service delivery

According to a statement released by the state police command spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, Odumosu charged the officers to brace up and discharge their duties without fear or favour and sentiments as the laws are explicit on the duties of the police.

The parley was attended by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Department of Operations,  DCP Mohammed Ali, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Department of Finance and Administration, DCP Etim  Oqua, ACP Department of Operations, ACP Dotun Odubona, ACP Wale Ajao, second-in-command to Commander Rapid Response Squad, Lagos State and staff officers from the Command Headquarters Ikeja, but with the exception of the Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers as the meeting was basically father-to-son talk.

The policemen appreciated the Commissioner of Police for his fatherly roles and moves to improve their general welfare and safety in order to discharge their duties as required. They, however, promised to do the needful and fortify security across the state which will be devoid of corruption, incivility and unprofessional vices.