Retired Police Chiefs Rally Behind Egbetokun’s Reform Drive

ByNewsmakers

Feb 18, 2026 #Force Headquarters Abuja, #Kayode Egbetokun, #Louis Edet House Abuja meeting, #merit-based police promotions, #Nigeria Police reforms, #Police Mobile Force expansion, #police professionalism training Nigeria, #retired IGPs solidarity visit, #security sector reforms Nigeria, #Special Intervention Squad Nigeria

IGP Kayode Egbetokun flanked by retired IGPs Aliyu Atta (L) Sunday Ehindero ((R), Mike Okiro (2nd L), Ogbonna Onovo (2nd R), MD Abubakar (R) and Suleiman Abba (L) with members of the police management team behind them.

Adelowo Oladipo/

In a show of institutional unity, a committee of former Inspectors-General of Police (IGPs) on Tuesday paid a solidarity visit to the current Inspector-General, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, at the Force Headquarters, Louis Edet House, Abuja, reaffirming continuity of leadership and support for ongoing reforms in the Nigeria Police Force.

The meeting brought together past and present leadership of the Force, including members of the Force Management Team, Assistant Inspectors-General of Police, Commissioners of Police and other senior officers.

Among the retired police chiefs in attendance were Aliyu Attah, Sunday Ehindero, Mike Okiro, Ogbonna Onovo, Suleiman Abba, and Mohammed Dikko Abubakar.

Addressing the gathering, the IGP outlined structural and administrative changes implemented under his leadership aimed at modernising the Force and strengthening operational capacity.

According to him, the police had:
• Upgraded the Intelligence Unit into a full Department
• Elevated the Legal and Medical Units into Directorates
• Expanded Police Mobile Force squadrons from 74 to 80
• Created new Area Commands and Divisions nationwide
• Established a Special Intervention Squad for rapid response operations

He also stressed the introduction of merit-based promotion processes, revealing that more than 141,000 officers have been promoted, alongside compulsory ethics training programmes to enhance professionalism and discipline.

Speaking on behalf of the delegation, former IGP Mohammed Dikko Abubakar commended the progress recorded so far and urged officers across ranks to support the ongoing transformation of the Force.

He encouraged the IGP to maintain the reform momentum, noting that institutional stability depends on cooperation between past and present leadership.

The gathering symbolised a bridging of generations within Nigeria’s policing structure, with both retired and serving leaders pledging commitment to building a modern, trusted and capable police organisation.