Several senior officers of the Nigeria Police Force, including Deputy Inspector-General of Police Frank Mba, may leave service alongside the outgoing Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olukayode Adeolu Egbetokun, following the appointment of Olatunji Disu in acting capacity as the 23rd IGP by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
As reported earlier by The Eagle Online, Disu was recently promoted to the position of an Assistant Inspector General of Police.
He was posted two weeks ago to head the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annexe, Alagbon, Lagos.
Mba, who currently serves as Deputy Inspector-General in charge of the Department of Training and Development at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, is reportedly among at least four DIGs expected to exit the force as part of the leadership transition.
As it is the practice, when a new IGP is appointed, it is common for sweeping changes to occur at the top of the force’s hierarchy, often affecting serving DIGs, especially those senior in rank and year of entry into the Force before the appointee.
However, it remains uncertain whether DIG Fayoade Adegoke Mustapha, DIG Funsho Adegboye, and DIG Mohammed Adamu Dankwara, who were recently promoted, will retire alongside Egbetokun.
According to an internal list circulating within the police, several DIGs heading key departments at the Force Headquarters may be affected by the transition.
Those mentioned include Yahaya S. Abubakar, Deputy Inspector-General in charge of Finance and Administration; Mba, who oversees Training and Development; Adebola Hamzat, Head of Logistics and Supply; and Adebowale Williams, who supervises Information and Communication Technology.
Acting IGP: DIGs that may be forced to retire
Other senior officers listed are Sadiq Idris Abubakar, in charge of the Force Criminal Investigations Department; Ben Nebolisa Okolo, who heads the Force Intelligence Department; and Basil O. Idegwu, responsible for Research and Planning.
While the list identifies the officers and their roles, the police authorities have yet to officially confirm the timing or details of any retirement or redeployment linked to the change in leadership.
A source familiar with developments in the force noted that several of the officers, including Disu and Mba, were coursemates.
One of them said: “Disu, Fayoade, Funsho and Dankwara are Frank Mba’s coursemates.
“If not for the rapid promotion of Mba due to the quota system, he should not be leaving office now.”
The source added that the officers joined the police in the same year, 1992, but through different entry cadres.
The source explained: “Mba joined the Nigeria Police as a Cadet Inspector, while Disu and others entered as Assistant Superintendents of Police in 1992.
“Usually, those who entered as ASP are promoted faster than those who came in as Cadet Inspectors.”
It was also gathered that even the three newly-promoted DIGs may retire between June and July due to age considerations.
In the police, like most civil service officers, retirement comes either on attaining 60 years in age or having served for 35 years.
