In a dramatic shake-up within the Nigeria Police Force, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun has removed Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Benneth Igweh from his post as the head of Zone 7, covering the Federal Capital Territory and Niger State, amid an ongoing age-falsification scandal rocking the force. Igweh has been replaced by AIG Gumel H. Mohammed, with the change taking immediate effect.
The move is part of a broader crackdown following revelations that hundreds of police officers, including senior ranks, had falsified their ages to extend their service tenures illegally. The police hierarchy has now begun enforcing disciplinary measures against those implicated.
SaharaReporters had earlier exposed a shocking list of approximately 467 police officers accused of manipulating service records to extend their careers. Among those named were senior officers such as Simon Lough, SAN, and Benneth Igweh, who have now been directed to appear before a Force Disciplinary Committee (FDC).
A confidential police memo obtained by SaharaReporters confirmed Egbetokun’s directive, stating:
“INGENPOL HAS ORDERED THE POSTING OF AIGPOL GUMEL H. MOHAMMED TO AIG ZONE 7 ABUJA X POSTING IS WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT – PLEASE XXXXXXX.”
The IGP has also ordered disciplinary proceedings against senior officers who have refused to retire, demanding they report before the FDC between February 10 and May 13, 2025. According to a separate police signal dated February 7, the affected officers include:
AIG Benneth Igweh
CP Aina Emmanuel
CP Salama Wakili Abdul
DCP Simon Lough, SAN
ACP Adepoju Olugbenga Adewole
They are required to appear at the IGP’s Conference Hall in Abuja, fully dressed in clean uniforms, with strict adherence to the force’s daily dress code.
Reports indicate that more than 200 senior officers affected by the directive are resisting retirement, leading to growing tensions within the force. Sources say the rift has widened between IGP Egbetokun and the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Federal Investigation Department, Dasuki Galandanchi, who is allegedly lobbying for a two-year service extension—citing a precedent set by Egbetokun himself, who received an extension despite being due for retirement last year.
In a further bid to restore order, the IGP has carried out a sweeping reshuffling of senior officers across different commands. Another police signal dated February 9 outlined the reassignment of several Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) and Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs) across various states, including Lagos, Ebonyi, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, and Kano.
Furthermore, the Police Service Commission (PSC) has fully authorized the retirement of all officers implicated in the age-falsification scandal. A police memo dated February 10, 2025, directed all zonal commands and departments to comply with the PSC’s decision, stating:
“INGENPOL firmly directs you proceed with full implementation of POLSCOM directives X unambiguously conveyed in MYLET No. CH:8400/FS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.2/292.”
This latest purge signals a turning point for the Nigeria Police Force as it attempts to cleanse its ranks of corruption and fraudulent practices. While some officers have chosen to retire quietly, others continue to resist, setting the stage for a potentially explosive standoff between the police leadership and those unwilling to relinquish their posts.
With Egbetokun determined to enforce discipline and restructure the force, the coming weeks will determine whether this crackdown will restore integrity to the force or deepen the crisis within Nigeria’s policing system.
PIONEER NEWS 