SaharaReporters had exclusively reported that a mutiny was brewing within the Nigeria Police Force as hundreds of senior officers resisted retirement despite being found to have falsified their birth records.
Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun has assigned positions to the newly appointed Deputy Inspectors General of Police (DIGs) following the forced retirement of their predecessors by police authorities.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that the Police Service Commission (PSC) appointed six new DIGs: Sadiq Idiris Abubakar, Benjamin Nebolisa Okolo, Williams Adebowale, Bzigu Yakubu Kwazi Bali, Idegwu Basil Ukuoma, and Adebola Ayinde Hamzat.
Meanwhile, the police authorities had previously discharged and forcibly retired DIGs Dasuki Galandachi, Ali Ari Muhammed, Rhoda Adetutu Olofu, Jonathan Towuru (representing the South-South geopolitical zone), Suleiman Yusuf, Banji Lawal Badru, and Bala Ciroma over allegations of age falsification and violations of service rules.
Galandachi served as the DIG of the Force Intelligence Department (FID) in Abuja, while Towuru headed the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID). Ciroma was the DIG in charge of the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA), and Muhammed Ali oversaw the Department of Operations (DOPS).
In a police wireless message dated Thursday, March 6, 2025, and exclusively obtained by SaharaReporters, police authorities announced the postings for the newly appointed DIGs.
According to the memo, DIG Sahabo Abubakar Yahaya has been assigned to lead the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA), while DIG Sadiq Idris Abubakar will take over the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) from the retired Towuru.
DIG Benjamin Nebolisa Okolo has been appointed to head the Force Intelligence Department (FID), replacing Galandachi. DIG Williams Adebowale will oversee the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
DIG Bzigu Yakubu Kwazhi Dali will replace Ali as head of the Department of Operations (DOPS), while DIG Adebola Ayinde Hamzat will lead the Department of Logistics and Supply (DLS). Meanwhile, DIG Idegwu Basil Okuoma has been assigned to head the Department of Research and Planning (R&P) at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
Background
Previously, SaharaReporters also reported that Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Egbetokun had ordered senior police officers who refused to retire to appear before a disciplinary committee.
SaharaReporters had exclusively reported that a mutiny was brewing within the Nigeria Police Force as hundreds of senior officers resisted retirement despite being found to have falsified their birth records.
Sources revealed that some of these officers had been in service for up to 44 years, escalating tensions between IGP Egbetokun and some of them, including Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Galandanchi.
Galandanchi had sought a two-year service extension, citing Egbetokun’s own extension as a precedent, after the IGP was granted an exemption from retirement last year.
However, the extension bid was denied by the police authorities.
Two police signals obtained by SaharaReporters indicated that in February, Egbetokun ordered the replacement of some of the affected officers. Meanwhile, police authorities had fully approved the retirement of all implicated personnel.
Additionally, SaharaReporters reported that the IGP directed the posting and redeployment of officers to replace those found guilty of forgery, age falsification, and other violations of service regulations.
A previously published list included about 467 officers implicated in age falsification, among them Simon Lough, SAN, Benneth Igweh, and several others.
The recent controversy surrounding the police force stems from the forced retirement of many senior officers by the Police Service Commission (PSC). The mass retirements affected several Deputy Inspectors General (DIGs), Assistant Inspectors General (AIGs), and others.
The PSC had issued a directive mandating the retirement of officers who have served for 35 years or reached the age of 60, in line with Public Service Rules.