Police Shake-Up: IGP Disu Redeploys 10 AIGs in Major Leadership Reshuffle Across Eight States

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Tunji Disu, has approved the immediate redeployment of 10 Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) to strategic commands, departments, and formations across eight states and the Federal Capital Territory, in a major shake-up aimed at strengthening operational efficiency and reinforcing the Force’s command structure.

The directive was contained in a police wireless signal issued by the Force Secretariat, Abuja, on Monday, July 27, 2026, and marked “Most Immediate”. The message, referenced TH.5361/FS/FHQ/ABJ/SUB.7/X Posting Senior Officers, was circulated to all major police departments, zonal commands, state commands, specialised formations, and training institutions for immediate implementation.

The development comes barely a week after Disu decorated 13 new AIGs at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, charging them to uphold professionalism across their various formations. The Police Service Commission (PSC) had earlier approved the promotion of 13 Commissioners of Police to the rank of AIG, alongside 17 Deputy Commissioners of Police promoted to CP and 63 other senior officers advanced to higher ranks. Among the newly decorated AIGs are Obono Nnaghe Itam, Bassey Samuel Ewah, Osagie John Agans-Irabor, Monday Agbonika, Iyamah Daniel Edobor, Isah Danladi Nda, Akaninyene Ifebem Ezima, Livingstein Ikioye Orutugu, Bello Rashid Afegbua, and Betty Enekpen Otimenyin.

READ ALSO:

• Over 40 Bandits, 8 Commanders Killed as Security Forces Repel Katsina Attack
• Gunmen Kill 5 Siblings, 25 Others in Midnight Attack on Kaduna Community
• Hoodlums Invade ATBU Female Hostel, Rob Students of Over 50 Phones, Valuables

Under the new postings, AIG Polycarp Emeka Nwonyi was posted to Zone 9 Command in Umuahia, while AIG Obono Nnaghe Itam was redeployed as Commandant of the Police Staff College in Jos. AIG Bassey Samuel Ewa was posted to Zone 15 Command in Maiduguri, and AIG Osagie John Agans-Irabor was deployed to Zone 3 Command in Yola. AIG Monday Agbonika was posted to Zone 5 Command in Benin, while AIG Daniel Edobor Iyamah was redeployed to the Department of Operations at Force Headquarters, Abuja. AIG Isah Danladi Nda was posted to the Force Criminal Investigation Department Annex in Kaduna, and AIG Akaniyene Ifebem Ezima was redeployed to the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre in Abuja. AIG Bello Rashid Afegbua was posted to Zone 6 Command in Calabar, while AIG Betty Enekpen Otimenyin was deployed to Zone 8 Command in Lokoja. The postings take immediate effect, and the Force Headquarters has directed departments responsible for personnel records, establishment, and computer documentation to update their records to reflect the new postings.

Speaking to The Whistler, a source familiar with the development said more shake-ups could be expected within the Nigeria Police Force, noting that the IGP has pledged not to tolerate abuse of positions or power. “The IG has reiterated his commitment to reforming the Nigerian Police Force. Going forward, more shake-ups will be seen. Officers will no longer be comfortable in positions. This will encourage administrative growth and positive policing across the Nigerian Police Force at all levels,” the source said. The source further noted that before the current administration, some AIGs and DIGs had remained in charge of certain formations for extended periods, and the IGP’s reform efforts would address this to encourage administrative growth. Although the source did not attribute the prolonged stay of officers in such positions to corruption or abuse of office, it was noted that the confidence that could come with overstaying in a particular position could undermine operational effectiveness.

In a remarkable milestone for Cross River State, three of its sons were simultaneously elevated to the prestigious rank of AIG, marking the first time in the history of the Nigeria Police Force that three officers from the same state attained the rank at the same time. The three officers are AIG Akaninyene Ezima from Biase Local Government Area, AIG Nnaghe Itam from Yakurr Local Government Area, and AIG Bassey Ewah from Etung Local Government Area. A reception organised in their honour at the Nigeria Police Resource Centre in Abuja attracted prominent Cross River leaders, including Senator Eteng Jones Williams and other public officials. Former Commissioner of Police, Barr. Lawrence Alobi, who served as Chairman of the occasion, commended the officers for their years of dedicated and selfless service to the nation, describing the simultaneous elevation as unprecedented.

Police Shake-Up: IGP Disu Redeploys 10 AIGs in Major Leadership Reshuffle Across Eight States

Over 40 Bandits, 8 Commanders Killed as Security Forces Repel Katsina Attack

A combined team of local hunters, the Katsina State Community Watch Corps (KSCWC), and troops of the Nigerian Army’s 17 Brigade successfully repelled a large-scale bandit attack on Guga Village in Bakori Local Government Area, Katsina State, killing more than 40 suspected bandits, including eight senior commanders, in a fierce gun battle that lasted several hours.

The attack occurred at about 5:40 p.m. on Sunday, July 26, 2026, when more than 200 heavily armed bandits stormed the community in what security officials described as a coordinated reprisal assault. The attackers were reportedly led by notorious bandit kingpin Idi Abasu Aiki and reinforced by fighters linked to the Ado Aleru criminal network operating from neighbouring Zamfara State.

According to security reports, intelligence gathered before the assault indicated that the gunmen had planned to overwhelm local hunters and KSCWC operatives guarding the area before extending the offensive to Bakori town and surrounding communities. Acting on prior intelligence, security operatives mounted a coordinated response that triggered a fierce gun battle, forcing the attackers to retreat after suffering heavy casualties. Security assessments confirmed that more than 40 suspected bandits were neutralised during the confrontation, while follow-up intelligence confirmed that about eight senior commanders of the criminal network were among those killed. The Katsina State Government confirmed the success, describing it as a significant breakthrough in the state’s ongoing efforts to tackle insecurity.

READ ALSO:

• Gunmen Kill 5 Siblings, 25 Others in Midnight Attack on Kaduna Community
• Hoodlums Invade ATBU Female Hostel, Rob Students of Over 50 Phones, Valuables
• Presidency tells Peter Obi to stop dreaming, insists he lost 2023 presidential election

One of those killed was identified as Iliya Mai Rasha, a commander linked to several deadly attacks, kidnappings and other violent crimes in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State, who sources said had joined the assault at Aiki’s invitation. His killing is considered a significant operational success, as he had long been a target of security forces. Sources further disclosed that Idi Abasu Aiki sustained life-threatening gunshot wounds during the exchange. His fate could not be independently verified as of the time of filing reports, but security sources described his injuries as severe.

Despite the success, the operation came at a cost. The Katsina State Government confirmed that five members of the hunters’ team were killed during the operation after they were caught outside the frontline while attending to personal shopping activities. The government described the slain hunters as “courageous patriots who paid the ultimate sacrifice in defence of their communities” and extended condolences to their families. One of the fallen hunters was identified as Idris Ibrahim Babawo.

Security operatives have since commenced clearance operations in the affected area to recover abandoned weapons and other items left behind by the fleeing bandits, while surveillance has been intensified to prevent further attacks. Authorities confirmed that normalcy has been restored to Guga and surrounding communities, reaffirming their commitment to sustained joint security operations across the state. The latest operation followed an earlier confrontation on July 7 at Dawan Laila Village, where the same criminal network reportedly suffered significant losses during an engagement with local security volunteers.

In a related development, troops of the 17 Brigade Quick Reaction Force (QRF), working with the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), recovered 126 rustled livestock, comprising 83 cows and 43 sheep, after ambushing suspected terrorists driving the animals through Yankwani Village in Bakori LGA at about 6 a.m. on July 26. The suspects fled into the bush on sighting troops, abandoning the livestock, which were handed over to the Chairman of the Bakori Peace Keeping Committee for identification and return to their owners. Also, troops of the 17 Brigade, in collaboration with the KSCWC, rescued a kidnapped woman in Karkata Village, Charanchi Local Government Area, at about 11:22 p.m. on Sunday, after a distress call reached troops at Forward Operating Base Radda. The team engaged the abductors, forcing them to abandon the victim and flee. The woman was reunited with her family.

Over 40 Bandits, 8 Commanders Killed as Security Forces Repel Katsina Attack

Kano Woman Arrested for Severing Boyfriend’s Manhood Over Plan to Marry Another

The Kano State Police Command has arrested a 25-year-old woman, Maimunatu Idris, for allegedly attacking her boyfriend with a knife and severing his genitals at Durbar Hotel in the Badawa area of Kano. The suspect, who hails from Maigatari Local Government Area in Jigawa State, reportedly carried out the attack after discovering her boyfriend’s plan to marry another woman.

Maimunatu Idris

The incident occurred on Monday, July 27, 2026, at about 12:50 p.m., when hotel management alerted the police to the violent attack. Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, confirmed the incident in a statement, saying the Divisional Police Officer of Badawa Division promptly led a team of detectives to the scene, where the suspect was arrested and the knife allegedly used in the attack was recovered as an exhibit.

The police spokesperson stated that preliminary investigations indicate the suspect attacked her boyfriend with a sharp knife after learning of his intention to marry another woman. “Upon receipt of the report, the Divisional Police Officer led a team of detectives to the scene. The suspect was arrested and the weapon recovered as exhibit. The victim was rushed to Abubakar Imam Urology Hospital where he is currently receiving medical care. Investigation is ongoing,” Kiyawa said.

READ ALSO:

• PFIPC scandal: How Accountant-General exposed Adeniyi Adeyemi’s fake presidential agency
• Senate Defends Bus Preaching Bill Amid Public Outcry
• Police Bust Phone Theft Syndicate, Recover Nine Android Devices in Asaba

Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, strongly condemned the attack, describing violence as an unacceptable response to personal disagreements. He warned members of the public against taking the law into their own hands under any guise, assuring residents that the Command would conduct a diligent, transparent and thorough investigation, and that anyone found culpable would be arraigned in court in accordance with the law. “The Nigeria Police Force is constitutionally empowered to investigate, arrest and prosecute offenders through due process. Members of the public should desist from taking the law into their own hands under any guise,” the police commissioner said.

An eyewitness who works as a security personnel near the hotel told Daily Trust that the suspect lured her boyfriend to lodge at the hotel after learning of his plan to end the relationship. “She asked him to lodge at the hotel so they could stay together. It was there she used the opportunity to cut his manhood,” the eyewitness said. He added that the suspect was immediately apprehended and handed over to the police, while the victim was rushed to the hospital for treatment.

The victim’s identity has not been disclosed by the police, and he is currently receiving medical care at Abubakar Imam Urology Hospital. Police said the suspect is in custody as investigations continue to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident. The Kano incident is among two separate violent cases recorded in the state, with the police also arresting three suspects over the alleged mob killing of a 30-year-old man, Abubakar Auwal, in the Sheka area of Kano following accusations that he had been involved in a relationship with a married woman.

Kano Woman Arrested for Severing Boyfriend’s Manhood Over Plan to Marry Another