The Lagos State Police Command has clarified that the recent withdrawal of security personnel assigned to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mojisola Meranda, was purely an administrative decision and not influenced by politics.
According to the police, the officers were withdrawn because they had been assigned without proper approval, a situation that also affected several other VIPs in the state.
A police source explained that the new Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Moshood, ordered a review of all security assignments to ensure due process and professionalism.
As a result, any officer assigned to VIP protection without official authorization was recalled.
“The police have remained neutral in this process. This is not about the Speaker alone—some traditional rulers have had police guards for nearly 20 years without proper approval,” the source said.
Ordinarily, VIPs seeking police protection must formally request it, and approval must be granted before officers are assigned. However, in the case of the Speaker, the law entitles her to police protection without a personal request.
The standard procedure requires the outgoing administration to officially notify the police about leadership changes, listing the officials who require security.
“In this case, no such communication was sent to the police, which is likely why the officers withdrew, as they had no official directive assigning them to the duty,” the source added.
