By Rejoice Peterside
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has charged newly promoted senior officers of the Nigeria Police Force to see their elevation not as a reward, but as a call to greater responsibility, warning that there will be zero tolerance for indiscipline, corruption, abuse of office, or dereliction of duty.
Speaking on Monday at the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Peacekeeping Hall, Force Headquarters, Abuja, during the decoration ceremony of officers promoted to the ranks of Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) and Commissioners of Police (CPs), the IGP described the promotion as a merit-based step aimed at strengthening professionalism and integrity within the Force.
“This promotion is not a reward; it is a responsibility,” Disu declared, urging the officers to operate as strategic leaders whose conduct must reflect discipline, integrity, and respect for the rule of law. He warned that he would personally hold them accountable not only for operational outcomes but also for the conduct of officers under their command, stressing that effective leadership must be firm, consistent, and proactive.
The newly decorated AIGs at the ceremony included Emmanuel Ado Christopher, former Commissioner of Police in Yobe State; Joseph Eribo, former CP in Ekiti State; Dantawaye Miller, former CP in the Federal Capital Territory; Uche Ifeanyi Henry, PhD, Director of the NPF National Cyber Crime Center; Olarenwaju Peter Ogunlowo, former CP in Ogun State; Muhammad Dahiru, former CP in Jigawa State; Dankombo Morris, former CP in Adamawa State; Bello Shehu, former CP in Katsina State; Ibrahim B. Maikaba, former CP in Zamfara; Ahmed Musa, former CP in Sokoto State; Simeon Udofia Akpanudom, fdc, former CP at the Anti-Fraud FCID Annex in Lagos; and Haruna Olufemi, former CP in Oyo State.
Olohundare Moshood Jimoh, former CP in Lagos State, is currently performing a special assignment in Lagos and was not present at the ceremony.
Among the newly promoted Commissioners of Police were Abdulrahim Audu Shaibu, Commander of NIWA in Lokoja; Abbas Sule, DC DFA INTERPOL; Ojugbele E. Adebola, DC OPS Zone 2 Lagos; Preye Raymond Egbetokun, DC DFA Akwa-Ibom Command; Kayode Uthman Magaji, Community Policing, R&P, FHQ, Abuja; Adebisi Bola Lateef, DC DFA Osun Command; Markus Ishaku Basiran, DC DFA Zone 6 Calabar; Silas Bamidele Aremu, DD Admin DoLS; Sylvester Onyie Uzoefuna, DC DOPS Cross River Command; Magaji Ismaila, DC Projects PAB FHQ Abuja; Theodore Chukwuemeka Obasi, DC Maritime Lagos; Sarah Idowu Ehindero, DC DFA Ogun State Command; Hayatu Shaffa Hassan, DC SID Abia State Command; Mohammed Babakura, DC Inspectorate DTD; Danjuma I. Yahaya, DC DOPS Zone 12 Bauchi; and Rebecca Uchenna Okereke, Band Master.
During the ceremony, Disu emphasised that senior officers must uphold professionalism, remain approachable, and ensure that policing is people-oriented. He stated that trust between the police and the public is essential for intelligence gathering, crime prevention, and effective law enforcement.
As part of the ongoing reform agenda, the IGP directed the newly promoted officers to embrace innovation, strengthen operational efficiency, and eliminate outdated practices inconsistent with modern policing standards. He also announced that all newly promoted Deputy Inspectors-General of Police and AIGs would proceed on a strategic leadership retreat beginning Tuesday, March 24, 2026. The retreat, organised by the Police Reform Secretariat in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme, is designed to deepen reforms with a focus on transformational leadership, professionalism, and modern policing standards. Participation in the retreat is mandatory and expected to provide a platform for reflection, strategic alignment, and capacity building across the Force.
The IGP also urged the officers to prioritise mentorship, build capacity within their ranks, and guide younger officers to uphold the highest standards of the profession.
Disu further disclosed that the Nigeria Police Force would host the second edition of National Police Day on April 7, 2026. The celebrations will feature a week-long lineup of events starting March 30 across Commands and Formations nationwide, including medical outreach programmes, community engagement initiatives, and other interventions aimed at bringing policing closer to the people. The week will culminate in a grand parade, gala night, and awards ceremony recognising officers for excellence in service.
He commended Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his unwavering support in strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture, noting that such backing has been critical to ongoing police reform efforts. He also praised the Police Service Commission for its transparency and professionalism in the promotion process, stressing that its role remains vital in sustaining fairness and credibility within the Force.
