By Rejoice Peterside
The Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Training and Development at Force Headquarters, Frank Mba, has voluntarily retired from the Nigeria Police Force after 34 years of distinguished service.
Mba’s retirement comes amid recent leadership changes within the force following the retirement of former Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the appointment of Olatunji Rilwan Disu as the new head of the police.
His exit marks the end of a career that saw him serve in several strategic roles across operations, investigations, administration, and public relations within the Nigerian policing system.
Meanwhile, the Police Service Commission has invited seven Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) for promotion interviews to the rank of Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs), as part of efforts to strengthen the Force Management Team that will work with the new Inspector-General.
The officers invited for the promotion exercise include Margareth Ochalla, Kenechukwu Onwuemelie, Ishiaku Mohammed, Zacharia Fera Achinyan, Zango Ibrahim Baba, Mohammed Abdul Sulaiman and Umar Shehu Nadada.
According to the commission, the officers are expected to appear before the panel for the promotion interview at its office on Friday.
Mba joined the Nigeria Police Force in May 1992 as a cadet officer and quickly distinguished himself during training. He graduated as the best cadet in academics at the Nigeria Police Academy.
A frontline member of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mba holds a law degree from the University of Lagos and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2002 after completing his studies at the Nigerian Law School in Abuja. He later earned a Master’s degree in Law with distinction from the University of Dundee in Scotland.
Over the years, he also attended several international professional programmes, including the prestigious FBI National Academy in Quantico, United States. He further enhanced his leadership and professional skills through executive training programmes at Harvard University and the University of Oxford.
Mba also represented Nigeria in international assignments, including participation in the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Liberia between 2006 and 2007.
During his career, he held several strategic positions within the police force. He served as Area Commander in Ajah and Festac in Lagos State, Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, Commissioner of Police in charge of the Border Patrol Force at Force Headquarters, and Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Panti, Lagos.
He also served as the Force Public Relations Officer and the spokesman of the Lagos State Police Command, positions that brought him into national prominence due to his media engagement and public communication roles.
In his farewell message, Mba expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the opportunity to serve the nation during his administration.
“I am deeply grateful to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the privilege of serving our great nation during his administration. The confidence reposed in the Nigeria Police leadership and the support given to the institution during this period have been invaluable,” he said.
“It has been a great honour for me to contribute my quota to the security and stability of our country.”
He also expressed appreciation to Nigerians for their support throughout his years in service.
“I want to sincerely thank the good people of Nigeria for the trust, encouragement and cooperation they extended to me throughout my 34 years in service.
“Policing is a difficult but noble profession, and whatever success we recorded was made possible by the understanding and support of Nigerians. I leave the service with a heart full of gratitude and pride for having had the opportunity to serve,” Mba said.
Mba’s retirement marks the end of more than three decades of service in the Nigeria Police Force, during which he played key roles in public communication, operational leadership and institutional development.
