‘We’ll Fill Security Gap With New VIP Protection Squad’ — Vigilantes

Muhammed Abubakar, Reporting

Following the withdrawal of police from public office holders across the country, members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) have declared their readiness to provide specialised VIP protection services to political leaders and senior government officials.

In a statement issued in Abuja and signed by the Commander of Human Resources at the VGN National Headquarters, Dr Austin Akubo, the National Chairman and Commandant-General, Navy Capt. Abubakar Umar-Bakori (rtd), the group said the organisation’s nearly two million-strong workforce is well positioned to address any security gaps the directive may create.

Umar-Bakori, a retired naval officer and Ambassador of Peace, said the VGN possesses the manpower, training, and nationwide presence required to undertake close protection duties traditionally managed by conventional security agencies.

He noted that VGN operatives have long benefited from training by the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, and the Department of State Services (DSS), and continue to undergo capacity-building programmes in community policing, intelligence gathering, and equipment handling.

According to him, the VGN is now prepared to establish a dedicated VIP Protection Squad to offer high-level protective services to top government officials, business executives, and other individuals requiring specialised security.

“As the VGN continues to grow and expand its operations, there is a need to provide specialised security services to VIPs who require enhanced protection.

“This proposal outlines the establishment of a VIP Protection Squad to provide secure and professional security services to these individuals,” Umar-Bakori said.

The statement explained that the proposed squad would be responsible for close protection, escort and transportation security, static guarding, and advance security assessments.

Members of the squad would also conduct risk assessments for VIP movements and events, offer security advice, and work closely with conventional security agencies to ensure coordinated operations.

The VGN said the unit would be led by a senior officer trained specifically in close protection. Operatives would be thoroughly vetted and equipped with vehicles, communication devices, and modern security gear required for high-level protective duties.

Umar-Bakori stressed that once the ongoing police-led training of VGN personnel nationwide is completed, the VIP Protection Squad would undergo further specialised courses in surveillance, close protection, and other relevant security practices.

He added that the creation of the VIP squad would not only bolster security for high-profile individuals but also strengthen cooperation with other security agencies, while enhancing the VGN’s reputation as a credible partner in Nigeria’s national security architecture.

In recent months, Umar-Bakori has intensified advocacy for the formal inclusion of the VGN in the country’s security framework, arguing that its nationwide reach and community-level networks make it a valuable ally in tackling insecurity.