Shake-Up In Police: Full List Of DIGs Retiring After Disu’s Appointment

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday approved the appointment of Assistant Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu as the acting Inspector-General of Police, following the resignation of Kayode Egbetokun from the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force.

According to Ireporter Online, Egbetokun submitted his resignation letter citing pressing family considerations. He had been appointed in June 2023 for a four-year tenure scheduled to conclude in June 2027, in line with the amended provisions of the Police Act.

In a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency confirmed that Tinubu acknowledged receipt of the resignation and commended the outgoing police chief for his dedication and service to the country.

Until his elevation, Disu served as the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department Annex, Alagbon, Lagos. His appointment is expected to trigger a significant shake-up within the top hierarchy of the Force, as longstanding policing tradition in Nigeria often sees senior officers step aside when a junior officer is elevated to the position of Inspector-General. While not a statutory requirement, the convention underscores the institution’s emphasis on seniority, hierarchy, and internal cohesion.

With Disu’s emergence, several Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs) may be affected. Among them is Frank Mba, a seasoned officer who began his career as an Inspector and rose steadily through the ranks. Mba has served three times as National Spokesman of the Nigeria Police Force and was awarded the United Nations Medal for his service with the Nigerian contingent to the UN Mission in Liberia between 2006 and 2007. He was decorated as an Assistant Inspector-General of Police in March 2023 after holding multiple strategic positions within the Force.

Also potentially impacted is Mohammed Gumel, who currently oversees the Force Intelligence Department at the Force Headquarters in Abuja. Widely regarded for his advocacy of community policing, Gumel previously served as Commissioner of Police and was recognised as Community Policing Advocate of the Year in 2024.

Another senior officer is Ademola Hamzat, the Deputy Inspector-General in charge of the Department of Logistics and Supply. Appointed to the role in March 2025, Hamzat has supervised procurement, infrastructure, and logistical operations of the Force, and previously served as AIG in charge of Zone 16, Yenagoa, and as Commissioner of Police in Oyo State.

Yahaya Abubakar, who heads the Department of Finance and Administration at Force Headquarters, Abuja, is also among the senior officers whose positions may come under review. His department manages the Force’s financial planning, budgeting, and human resource administration.

Similarly, Basil Idegwu, appointed in March 2025 to lead the Department of Research and Planning, plays a key role in policy formulation and strategic development within the Force. A scholar with a Ph.D. in Peace and Security Studies, Idegwu has been central to modernisation initiatives.

In the Department of Operations, Bzigu Kwazhi oversees nationwide tactical and joint security operations, including election security and coordinated responses to civil disturbances. He has previously served as Commissioner of Police in Osun and Akwa Ibom states and has led high-level security interventions in Plateau and Adamawa states.

Also listed among senior officers is Idris Abubakar, who joined the Force as a cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police in 1992 and holds advanced academic qualifications, including a doctorate in Psychology.

Completing the list is Adebowale Williams, the Deputy Inspector-General in charge of Information and Communication Technology at Force Headquarters, responsible for advancing digital infrastructure and technological systems within the Nigeria Police Force.

As the transition unfolds, attention remains focused on the implications of Disu’s appointment and the potential restructuring at the apex of Nigeria’s policing system.