By Abiola Olawale
Reports emerging on Tuesday indicate that the race for the position of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) has begun to intensify as incumbent IGP Kayode Egbetokun is edging closer to his retirement age.
The New Diplomat reports that Egbetokun, who was appointed on June 19, 2024, is expected to retire on September 4, when he turns 60 barring any extension.
Though reports are suggesting the tenure of Egbetokun could be extended on various grounds, sources familiar with the development believe that it could go either way-extension or retirement on stated due date.
However, findings indicate that four high-ranking Police officers currently sit atop the top echelon of the police leadership from which their one might be considered for the top job.
Below is a short profile of the four top ranking police officers:
Frank Mba
Mba began his policing career as an Inspector and steadily rose through the ranks. In March 2023, he was decorated as an Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG).
Mba is a three-time National Spokesman of the Nigeria Police Force and has received a United Nations Medal for his service as a member of the Nigeria Police Contingent to the United Nations Mission in Liberia from 2006 to 2007
Dasuki Galadanchi
Galadanchi enlisted into Nigeria Police Force in 1990, as a Cadet ASP. He had served in various capacities including AC SCIID, Delta State, Akwa Ibom, DC X Squad FCIID, DC DFA Lagos, DC DFA Ekiti, CP Community Policing FHQ, CP Imo State, and Executive Secretary, the Nigeria Police Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society.
He has attended various courses namely: May Flower Police Station, Los Angeles, USA; UK Study tour on Community Policing, British Council, Abuja; Conflict Resolution, DFID, British Council, Abuja; Training Course for AC Ops, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos; and Strategic Leadership and Command Course, Police Staff College, Jos. He holds B.Sc (Hons) in Mathematics, PGD in Public Policy & Administration and MSc in Development Studies.
Bala Ciroma
Ciroma is the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Finance & Administration. He graduated from the University of Maiduguri, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in Geography before he enlisted in the Nigeria Police Force in 1990. He also holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Corruption Studies from the Hong Kong University. He is a member of Certified Fraud Examiners (CFE).
In 2004, he was posted to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as Head of Operations. Among others, In 2018, he was promoted to the rank of Commissioner of Police and redeployed to the Administration section of the Information Communication Technology Department. His promotion to an Assistant Inspector-General (AIG) of Police saw him becoming the AIG Zone 7, Abuja and AIG Department of Operations in Force Headquarters.
Sahabo Abubakar Yahaya
Yahaya hails from Hong, Adamawa State. He was born on September 15, 1965. He holds an LLB (HONS) from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria and further obtained LB in Law at the Prestigious Nigeria Law School Victoria Inland Lagos State.
He was enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force as Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police(ASP) on 18 May 1992. Abubakar has served in many commands, and occupied various positions and posts both within and outside Nigeria, which includes Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operation (DC OPS) Kaduna State Command, Deputy Commissioner of Police Department of Finance and Admin, (DC, DFA) Kogi State Command, Deputy Commissioner of Police Department of Finance and Admin (DCDFA) Plateau State Command, Deputy Commissioner of Police Criminal and Investigation Department (DCCID) Rivers, Deputy Commissioner of Police Legal Department FHQ Abuja, among others.
