The appointment of Tunji Disu as the Acting Inspector-General of Police by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to trigger the retirement of no fewer than seven senior officers of the Nigeria Police Force in line with established tradition within the institution.
Disu’s elevation followed the resignation of former Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who stepped down from office citing pressing family considerations despite having a tenure scheduled to run until June 2027 under the amended Police Act.
Until his appointment, Disu served as the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Alagbon, Lagos.
Although not backed by any statutory provision, it is a long-standing practice in the Nigeria Police Force for senior officers to voluntarily retire when a junior officer is appointed as Inspector-General. The tradition is aimed at preserving hierarchy, discipline, and organisational stability within the force.
Among those expected to exit the service are seven Deputy Inspectors-General of Police currently occupying strategic leadership positions at the Force Headquarters.
Leading the list is Frank Mba, a former Force Public Relations Officer who rose through the ranks from Inspector to Assistant Inspector-General before his elevation to the top echelon of police leadership. Mba also served with the United Nations Mission in Liberia, earning international commendation for his service.
Also affected is Mohammed Gumel, who heads the Force Intelligence Department, the apex intelligence-gathering arm of the Nigeria Police Force. Gumel is widely recognised for his advocacy of community policing initiatives.
The Deputy Inspector-General in charge of Logistics and Supply, Adebola Hamzat, is equally expected to retire. He oversees procurement, infrastructure, housing, and operational logistics across the police formation nationwide.
Similarly, Yahaya Abubakar, who supervises the Department of Finance and Administration responsible for budgeting, personnel management, and administrative operations, may also bow out of service.
Others include Basil Idegwu, head of the Department of Research and Planning, known for driving policy formulation and modernisation efforts within the force.
The Deputy Inspector-General in charge of Operations, Bzigu Kwazhi, whose office coordinates nationwide tactical and joint security operations, is also among those likely to retire.
Also listed is Idris Abubakar, a seasoned officer with academic qualifications in education and psychology who joined the Nigeria Police Force as a cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police in 1992.
Security analysts note that the expected retirements reflect the institutional culture of the Nigeria Police Force, where seniority remains a critical factor in leadership succession.
With Disu now occupying the apex position, the anticipated exit of the senior DIGs is expected to pave the way for a major restructuring within the police high command as new appointments and promotions follow.
The development signals a significant transition in the leadership structure of the Nigeria Police Force ahead of evolving national security challenges and ongoing policing reforms.
