The Nigeria Police Force is now firmly in a new era following the voluntary retirement of Deputy Inspector-General of Police Frank Mba and several other very senior members of the Force Management Team.

This massive exit follows the Wednesday swearing-in of Olatunji Disu as the substantive Inspector-General of Police by President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday, replacing Kayode Egbetokun.

Mba, the DIG in charge of Training and Development and a former three-time Force Public Relations Officer, formally bowed out today, March 6, 2026.

He is considered the most senior serving member of the force, and was expected to climb into Egbetokun’s shoes, but the president thought otherwise, preferring Disu from Ondo State.

A trained lawyer and FBI National Academy alumnus, Mba expressed “heartfelt gratitude” to the Commander-in-Chief for the opportunity to serve at the highest level of Nigerian policing.

The PSC Promotion Marathon

To prevent a leadership vacuum, the Police Service Commission (PSC), under the chairmanship of retired DIG Hashimu Argungu, has invited seven Assistant Inspectors-General (AIGs) to Abuja today for rigorous promotion interviews and examinations.

The successful candidates will be elevated to the rank of DIG to form IGP Disu’s new management cabinet.

The officers currently undergoing screening include:

• Margreth Ochalla
• Kenechukwu Onwuemelie
• Ishiaku Mohammed
• Zachariah Fera
• Zango Ibrahim
• Umar Shehu Nadada
• Muhammed Abdul Sulaiman

Why the Mass Retirement?

In the Nigeria Police Force, the appointment of a new IGP often necessitates the retirement of officers who are senior to the new appointee to maintain the “Chain of Command” and professional harmony.

IGP Disu, who was an AIG before his sudden elevation, now leads a force where several DIGs were technically his seniors, including Mr. Mba.

Sources at Force Headquarters confirm that the atmosphere in Abuja is one of “systematic transition.”

Many outgoing DIGs had already cleared their offices by Thursday night, waiting for the official “signal” that typically follows the PSC’s ratification of their successors.

The new IGP, Olatunji Disu, has hit the ground running, yesterday inaugurating a steering committee on State Police and declaring a policy of “zero tolerance” for abuse of authority.

It is hoped that by bringing in a fresh crop of DIGs, Disu is building a team specifically aligned with his vision for a technology-driven and citizen-friendly police force.

Given Nigeria’s myriad of security and criminal challenges, the job of the new IGP is well cut out for him.

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