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Frank Mba, Senior DIGs to Exit Police Service After Disu’s Appointment

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Tunji Disu
Tunji Disu

Frank Mba, Senior DIGs to Exit Police Service After Disu’s Appointment

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Tunji Disu, an Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), as Acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP) following the resignation of Kayode Egbetokun, a move that is expected to trigger the retirement of several senior Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs), including Frank Mba.

Egbetokun tendered his resignation on Tuesday, citing urgent family matters. Although he was appointed in June 2023 for a four-year tenure expected to run until June 2027 under the amended Police Act, the presidency confirmed that President Tinubu accepted the resignation and commended him for his service to the nation. The confirmation was contained in a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

Before his appointment, Disu served as Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Alagbon, Lagos, one of the most strategic investigative units of the Nigeria Police Force.

Why Senior DIGs Are Expected to Retire

While not expressly mandated by law, it is a long-standing convention within the Nigeria Police Force that officers senior to a newly appointed IGP retire from service. The practice is rooted in the force’s strong emphasis on seniority, hierarchy, discipline and institutional stability, ensuring that no senior officer remains subordinate to a junior appointee.

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With Disu’s elevation from AIG to Acting IGP, multiple DIGs who are senior to him by appointment and service record are therefore expected to formally disengage from service to allow him function as the substantive head of the police.

DIGs Likely to Be Affected

Frank Mba
Frank Mba is one of the most recognisable senior officers in the Nigeria Police Force. He joined the force as an Inspector, rose steadily through the ranks and was promoted to Assistant Inspector-General of Police in March 2023. Over his career, he served as Force Public Relations Officer three times and represented Nigeria on the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) between 2006 and 2007, earning a UN Medal. His seniority places him among those expected to retire following Disu’s appointment.

Mohammed Gumel
Mohammed Gumel assumed office in late December 2025 as Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Intelligence Department (FID) at the Force Headquarters in Abuja. Widely regarded as a strong advocate of community policing, Gumel was named Community Policing Advocate of the Year (2024). He is a certified member of the Police Staff College (PSC) and a Fellow of the Institute of Professional Managers and Administrators (FIPMA).

Adebola Hamzat
DIG Adebola Hamzat currently heads the Department of Logistics and Supply, overseeing procurement, infrastructure, housing, construction and logistics across the police force. He was promoted to DIG in March 2025. Before then, he served as AIG, Zone 16 (Yenagoa) covering Bayelsa and Rivers States, and previously commanded the Counter-Terrorism Unit. He also served as Commissioner of Police in Oyo State.

Yahaya Abubakar
Yahaya Abubakar is a senior DIG who formerly headed the Department of Finance and Administration at the Force Headquarters in Abuja. The department controls budgeting, financial management, human resources and administrative processes. He was appointed following his promotion by the Police Service Commission in 2024 and has previously served as Zone Commander and AIG.

Bzigu Kwazhi
As DIG in charge of the Department of Operations, Bzigu Kwazhi plays a critical role in tactical deployments, joint security operations, election security and crisis response nationwide. He has been involved in high-level security operations in states such as Adamawa and Plateau, and previously served as Commissioner of Police in Osun and Akwa Ibom States.

Adebowale Williams
Adebowale Williams is the DIG overseeing the Department of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) at the Force Headquarters. He is responsible for digital policing systems, communications infrastructure and technology-driven reforms, a key pillar of ongoing police modernisation efforts.

Idris Abubakar
DIG Idris Abubakar, from Garko Local Government Area of Kano State, joined the police as a cadet ASP in 1992. He holds advanced academic qualifications, including a PhD in Psychology from the University of Abuja, alongside degrees from Usmanu Danfodiyo University. His background combines policing with academic expertise in education and psychology.

Basil Idegwu
Promoted in March 2025, DIG Basil Idegwu heads the Department of Research and Planning at the Force Headquarters. He holds a PhD in Security and Peace Studies and is responsible for policy development, strategic planning and institutional reforms aimed at improving the operational effectiveness of the Nigeria Police Force.

Implications of the Appointment

The expected retirements will mark a major leadership transition within the Nigeria Police Force, opening space for new promotions and restructuring at the top echelon. Security analysts say the development places significant responsibility on Acting IGP Disu to stabilise leadership, sustain operational momentum and address Nigeria’s persistent security challenges, including banditry, kidnapping and violent crime.

Frank Mba, Senior DIGs to Exit Police Service After Disu’s Appointment

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Abroad-Based Nigerian Woman Kneels with Children in Emotional Tribute to Husband (VIDEO)

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Abroad-Based Nigerian Woman Kneels with Children

Abroad-Based Nigerian Woman Kneels with Children in Emotional Tribute to Husband (VIDEO)

An emotional moment was recently captured as an abroad-based Nigerian woman and her children knelt to honor and appreciate their husband and father. In a heartfelt message, the woman told her children,

“Without my husband, I’m nothing in this world. You guys should always treat Daddy as your God. Instead, you disrespect your dad, you disrespect me.”

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The scene, marked by tears, hugs, and heartfelt expressions, reflects the deep love and respect she holds for her spouse. Social media users have praised the display as a rare and touching example of family unity and gratitude.

Family psychologists note that such gestures reinforce bonds, model respect for parental figures, and help children understand the value of appreciation in relationships.

The post has since gone viral, sparking discussions on family values, respect for fathers, and emotional expression in Nigerian households.

Abroad-Based Nigerian Woman Kneels with Children in Emotional Tribute to Husband (VIDEO)

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Outrage as US Lawmakers Recommend Repeal of Sharia Codes in Nigeria

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Sharia Court

Outrage as US Lawmakers Recommend Repeal of Sharia Codes in Nigeria

The United States Congress has stirred national outrage in Nigeria after recommending the repeal of Sharia codes and criminal anti-blasphemy laws in northern states. The recommendations, included in a joint report on “Christian persecution in Nigeria” submitted to the White House by the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Appropriations Committee, also urged the disarmament of Fulani militias and proposed restrictions on beef and cattle exports to West African countries.

The report claimed that Nigeria is the “deadliest place in the world to be a Christian,” citing attacks by Fulani herdsmen and terrorist groups that have resulted in deaths, kidnappings, and destruction of churches and schools. It accused northern blasphemy laws of being used to silence Christians and other minorities, and urged Washington to push Nigeria toward religious legal reforms.

Religious Leaders Reject US Recommendations

Islamic clerics and scholars have strongly condemned the proposals. Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, a Kaduna-based cleric, defended the use of Sharia law, emphasizing that Muslims have a right to be governed by their religious injunctions. He also criticized what he described as a double standard in global religious discourse, noting that while other countries allow governance by religious texts for Christians, similar rights for Muslims are being challenged.

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Another cleric, Sheikh Halliru Maraya, described the matter as “sensitive and double-edged,” warning that foreign pressure to scrap Sharia could deepen religious divisions. He stressed that violence in states like Kaduna, Zamfara, and Plateau affects both Christians and Muslims, urging the US to focus on capacity-building, intelligence sharing, and counter-terrorism cooperation instead of legal interference.

Civil Society and Experts Raise Sovereignty Concerns

Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, former spokesman of the Northern Elders Forum, called the US recommendations “provocative” and detrimental to Nigeria’s sovereignty. He warned that attempts to enforce legal reforms externally could undermine interfaith harmony and national stability.

Political scientist Prof Jibrin Ibrahim noted that while the US can express concern about security incidents, it cannot dictate Nigeria’s domestic policies. He highlighted that much of the violence is driven by banditry and resource conflicts, affecting citizens of all faiths, rather than targeting Christians alone.

Federal Government Stresses Cooperation and Sovereignty

The Federal Government of Nigeria, through Minister of Information Mohammed Idris, described the report as a potential catalyst for broader cooperation. The government reaffirmed its commitment to protecting religious freedom and emphasized that ongoing security operations, intelligence sharing, and counter-terrorism efforts address threats posed by terrorist groups, bandits, and communal conflicts, irrespective of religion.

The government stressed that any foreign assistance must respect Nigeria’s sovereignty and constitutional framework, while warning against external interference in legal matters such as Sharia and blasphemy laws.

Call for Balanced, Home-Grown Solutions

Analysts and civil society organizations argue that while foreign concern is valid, Nigeria must determine its own policies through constitutional processes and inclusive national dialogue. Experts warn that external attempts to reform religious laws risk fueling divisions and undermining national sovereignty, calling for strategic, home-grown solutions to insecurity and interfaith tensions.

Outrage as US Lawmakers Recommend Repeal of Sharia Codes in Nigeria

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FG Tells Court NAFDAC Fully Empowered to Enforce Sachet Alcohol Ban

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NAFDAC

FG Tells Court NAFDAC Fully Empowered to Enforce Sachet Alcohol Ban

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (FMOHSW) has affirmed before the Federal High Court in Lagos that the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has full legal authority to enforce the nationwide ban on sachet alcohol and other small‑pack alcoholic beverages. This declaration came in a counter‑affidavit filed on February 23, 2026, in response to a lawsuit filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) challenging the enforcement of the ban.

Through its lawyer, Jumoke Motilayo Falaye, the ministry maintained that it has never interfered in NAFDAC’s operations and is not an enforcement agency. The affidavit emphasised that NAFDAC is a statutory body established under the NAFDAC Act, with broad regulatory powers over foods, drugs, and related products, including alcoholic beverages in sachets, PET bottles, and glass bottles below 200 ml. According to the ministry, enforcement decisions are solely within NAFDAC’s mandate, and allegations of ministerial interference are speculative and unsupported by evidence.

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The ministry also clarified that the Minister of Health has not granted any further extension of the moratorium on the ban, noting that the agency retains the authority to regulate, restrict, and enforce prohibitions as provided under Sections 5 and 30 of the NAFDAC Act, the Spirits Drink Regulation 2021, and the Memorandum of Resolution executed in December 2018.

SERAP’s Legal Challenge

SERAP filed the suit, marked FHC/L/CS/2568/25, against the Minister of Health and the Attorney-General of the Federation, seeking declaratory and injunctive reliefs to:

  • Declare the sachet alcohol ban valid under the NAFDAC Act.

  • Prevent the Minister of Health from granting or extending any moratorium on enforcement.

  • Restrict federal authorities from interfering with NAFDAC’s enforcement responsibilities.

  • Ensure full nationwide implementation of the ban, particularly given concerns over public health and alcohol abuse among youth and low-income communities.

SERAP argued that delays in enforcing the ban violate national health laws and expose communities to risks associated with cheap, potent, and highly accessible alcoholic beverages.

The sachet alcohol ban has been a contentious public policy issue in Nigeria. NAFDAC began a renewed crackdown on sachet alcohol in late 2025 following directives from the National Assembly and Senate, which ordered that the deadline for compliance be strictly enforced. However, conflicting communications from federal authorities, including the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, created confusion over the enforcement timeline.

Industry groups, including the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), have challenged the ban, citing economic impacts, job losses, and potential growth of unregulated markets. Despite this, NAFDAC has maintained that enforcement is legally justified and in the interest of public health and safety.

The Federal High Court is yet to fix a hearing date for the case, which could set a landmark precedent for regulatory authority and public health enforcement in Nigeria.

FG Tells Court NAFDAC Fully Empowered to Enforce Sachet Alcohol Ban

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