Shortly before leaving office, former Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, approved a series of late redeployments affecting senior officers within key units of the Nigeria Police Force. The changes were carried out ahead of his handover to the Acting IGP, Tunji Disu.
An internal wireless communication labelled “Most/Immediate” revealed that Egbetokun authorised the reassignment of several high-ranking officers, including the removal of Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Shem Dauwa Yahaya from the Office of the Inspector-General of Police.
According to sources at Force Headquarters who spoke with SaharaReporters, CSP Shem Dauwa Yahaya (AP/No. 86216), who had been serving as Principal Staff Officer (PSO) III to the IGP and deputy to PSO II, ACP Yemisi Kuti, was redeployed to Port Harcourt as Commanding Officer, Protect Base 6. The directive effectively transferred him from the IGP’s office to a field-based operational command.
Insiders alleged that Dauwa worked closely with ACP Yemisi Kuti, whom they described as a trusted associate of the former IGP.
The signal, bearing reference number CH.5660/FS/FHQ/ABJ/SUB.15/X and issued from the Nigeria Police Force Secretariat in Abuja, was disseminated widely across the Force. It was sent to major departments at Force Headquarters, including Finance and Administration, Operations, Logistics and Supply, the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Intelligence, Training and Development, and ICT.
The directive was equally addressed to all Assistant Inspectors-General of Police overseeing Zones 1 to 17, as well as commands such as the Mobile Police, Border Patrol, Maritime Command, Interpol, airport formations, state commands, and various specialised tactical and administrative units nationwide.
The message conveyed that the Inspector-General had ordered the immediate mobilization and demobilization of selected senior officers, mandating swift adjustments to their postings and duties.
Among other transfers, CSP Guful Balmun Jibrin (AP/No. 118824) was reassigned to serve as Commanding Officer of Terrorpol Base 8 in Jos, a counter-terrorism formation. Conversely, CSP Martin William (AP/No. 118819) was relieved of his role as Commanding Officer of the same Terrorpol Base 8 in Jos and redeployed to Kaduna State Command.
Additionally, Superintendent of Police Dinfa Michael Nanvyap (AP/No. 190235) was moved from the Police Training School in Jos to Mobile Police Squadron 13 in Makurdi, shifting from a training role to an operational Mobile Police assignment.
The wireless instruction directed all relevant commands to formally notify the affected officers and release them immediately to assume their new responsibilities. It also mandated the Computer Department, Establishment Department, and Records Office to update official personnel records to reflect the changes.
The communication was circulated extensively throughout the Nigeria Police Force hierarchy — including Force Headquarters, zonal formations, tactical units, investigative divisions, training institutions, and state commands — to ensure the redeployments were formally acknowledged and promptly implemented across the organisation.