The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the appointment of six new Deputy Inspectors General of Police (DIGs) following the retirement of several senior officers amid ongoing reforms in the Nigeria Police Force.
The announcement, made on Tuesday by the PSC’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, comes after at least seven DIGs were forced into retirement after failing to secure service extensions.
The newly appointed DIGs are Sadiq Idiris Abubakar, Benjamin Nebolisa Okolo, Williams Adebowale, Bzigu Yakubu Kwazi Bali, Idegwu Basil Ukuoma, and Adebola Ayinde Hamzat.
Sadiq Idiris Abubakar: Former Commandant of the Police Academy, Wudil, Kano, and ex-Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory.
Benjamin Nebolisa Okolo: Former AIG of Zone 16, Yenagoa, and head of the Department of Information Communication Technology at the Force Headquarters.
Williams Adebowale: Commandant of the Police Staff College, Jos.
Bzigu Yakubu Kwazi Bali: Former AIG at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Enugu.
Idegwu Basil Ukuoma: AIG of Zone 14, Katsina.
Adebola Ayinde Hamzat: Former AIG of Zone 16, Yenagoa, and ex-Commissioner of Police for Oyo State Command.
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The mass retirement followed the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun’s directive to officers who falsified their birth records or exceeded the mandatory service years to retire.
Among those affected were Dasuki Galandachi, Ali Ari Muhammed, Rhoda Adetutu Olofu, Jonathan Towuru, Suleiman Yusuf, Banji Lawal Badru, and Bala Ciroma.
Reports indicate that some of the retired officers had been in service for over 40 years, defying the mandatory retirement rules.
The IGP’s stance on the matter reportedly escalated tensions within the force, with several officers resisting the directive.
The selection of the new DIGs was overseen by PSC Chairman, Hashimu Argungu (retd.), alongside other members of the commission.
Argungu urged the new appointees to support the IGP in strengthening the Nigeria Police Force’s capacity to maintain law and order across the country.
The latest appointments are part of the ongoing efforts to sanitize the force and restore discipline among its ranks.