Calls for appointment of "Indigenous" Inspector-General intensify as new Police Chiefs are decorated

Calls for appointment of "Indigenous" Inspector-General intensify as new Police Chiefs are decorated

By Johnson Arua

As newly promoted Deputy Inspectors-General (DIGs) and Assistant Inspectors-General (AIGs) of Police were decorated on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, fresh calls have emerged for the appointment of an "indigenous" Inspector-General of Police (IGP), with growing appeals for a merit-driven leadership transition within the Nigeria Police Force.

In a statement issued in Abuja, media scholar and security consultant, Prof. Sandra C. Duru, questioned why the South-East region has not produced another Inspector-General of Police since the tenures of former IGPs Mike Okiro and Ogbonnaya Onovo. She argued that the conversation on equitable representation in the nation’s security structure can no longer be ignored.

Prof. Duru pointed to the credentials of DIG Frank Mbah, describing him as one of the most qualified senior officers for consideration. According to her, Mbah stands out as a seasoned police officer, lawyer, security strategist and public relations expert whose record remains “scandal-free, intellectually sound and physically fit.”

She noted that with at least four years of service before retirement, Mbah offers the prospect of continuity, reform-driven leadership and improved public confidence. His communication skills, she added, remain unmatched in contemporary policing.

The statement cautioned against political interference, warning that forcing competent officers into premature retirement would be “unjust and detrimental” to ongoing reforms. Prof. Duru urged authorities to resist decisions that could undermine national security and weaken institutional credibility.

Recent occupants of the office of Inspector-General of Police according to her include Kayode Egbetokun (Ogun), Usman Alkali Baba (Yobe), Mohammed Adamu (Nasarawa), Ibrahim Idris (Niger) and Solomon Arase (Edo).

“The time for balance, justice and merit-based leadership is now,” the statement read, emphasizing that the Force needs reform-minded leaders rather than “placeholders.”

Prof. Duru stressed that her position was neither politically nor ethnically motivated, but anchored on national interest.

“True loyalty to one’s nation is not blind praise. It is the courage to speak truth to power—respectfully and factually.”

She appealed to the Federal Government to prioritize competence, integrity and reform capacity in appointing the next Inspector-General of Police.