Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun has ordered the immediate redeployment of Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Gumel H. Mohammed to Zone 7, which oversees the Federal Capital Territory and Niger State.
Mohammed takes over from AIG Benneth Igweh, who assumed the role on September 12, 2024.
According to reports, this move is part of a broader restructuring within the Nigeria Police Force, as senior officers implicated in forgery, age falsification, and violations of service regulations face reassignment or retirement.
A police memo dated February 10, 2025, confirmed the directive, stating:
“INGENPOL HAS ORDERED THE POSTING OF AIGPOL GUMEL H. MOHAMMED X TO AIG ZONE ‘7 ABUJA X POSTING IS WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT-PLEASE.”
Recent findings reveal that around 467 senior police officers falsified their ages and bypassed service regulations. Among those named are Simon Lough, SAN, and Benneth Igweh. On February 7, 2025, a police signal obtained by SaharaReporters directed several affected officers to appear before the Force Disciplinary Committee (FDC).
The directive states:
“INGENPOL directs you warn and release AP. No. 50645 Idowu Owohunwa, AP/NO. 50703, AIG Benneth Igweh, AP/NO. 41704, CP Aina Emmanuel, AP/NO. 41741, CP Salama Wakili Abdul, AP/NO. 46522, Adepoju Olugbenga Adewole, AP/NO. 57917 DCP Simon Lough, SAN, serving yours to appear before the Force Disciplinary Committee (FDC) sitting from 10/02/2025 TO 13/05/2025.”
Resistance to Retirement Sparks Tension
Amid the directive, tensions are rising within the force as over 200 affected senior officers have refused to retire. Reports indicate that some officers have served for as long as 44 years—well beyond the legally mandated service period.
Sources reveal that Deputy Inspector General of the Federal Investigation Department, Dasuki Galandanchi, is lobbying for a two-year service extension. He cites the precedent set by IGP Egbetokun, who received a similar extension despite reaching retirement age last year.
Additionally, a separate police signal confirms further high-level postings, with multiple Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) and Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs) reassigned to various commands across the country.
The signal reads: “TH.5361/FS/FHQ/ABJ/SUB.5/258x POSTING SENIOR OFFICERS X INGENPOL HAS ORDERED THE POSTING OF THE FOLLOWING DECOMPOLS X TO DC DOPS ZONE 2 LAS X DECOMPOL OJUGBELE E. ADESOLA X TO DC DFA AKWA-IBOM X DECOMPOL PREYE RAYMOND EGBE X TO DC DFA ZONE 2 LAS X DECOMPOL BELLO ADAMU X TO DC CID EBONYI COMMAND X…”
