The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has withdrawn all Police escorts guarding the Speaker of the Lagos State of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mojisola Meranda, and those providing security at the Assembly complex.
An aide to the Speaker, speaking in confidence to Vanguard, confirmed that security personnel, including police officers and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), were withdrawn on Thursday morning without any replacement.
“In the early hours of Thursday, we woke up to the startling news that all security details assigned to Madam Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, had been withdrawn. This includes the police and DSS officers, leaving her exposed to threats amid the ongoing speakership crisis,” the aide disclosed.
The aide further appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, as the state’s Chief Security Officer, to intervene urgently to prevent a potential breakdown of law and order.
A source claimed that the withdrawal of Meranda’s security details had nothing to do with the political tussles in the State House of Assembly, as the police have maintained neutrality throughout.
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He said, “What happened is that the new Commissioner of Police (CP) Olohundare Moshood Jimoh, as part of his efforts to instill professionalism and due process, sent a directive that all policemen operatives of the command on VIP protection duties without due approval should be withdrawn immediately.
“There are some traditional rulers in the state who have had police personnel guarding them for almost 20 years without approval. It was not just about the Speaker.
“The normal procedure is that when police protection is needed by VIPs, they are to write the police officially, and upon approval, personnel will be assigned to them.
“The Speaker of the House of Assembly is entitled to police protection under the law, and she doesn’t need to write as a person. However, the normal procedure is that the outgoing administration will write the police formally to notify the force about a change in leadership, stating the names of the new officeholders deserving of police protection.
“In this instance, no such communication has been sent to the police, and so, that is probably why the policemen withdrew because they know there was no letter posting them to that duty,” said the source.
At the time of this report, the Police Command had yet to speak on the issue, and the Commissioner of Police (CP) and the Public Relations Officer (PPRO) had yet to be reached.
As tensions continue to rise, stakeholders are calling for immediate action to restore order and ensure the safety of Speaker Meranda and the Assembly complex.
