In a sweeping move by the Nigeria Police Force, six high-ranking officers, including the former Commissioner of Police (CP) for the Federal Capital Territory, Bennett Igweh, have been compulsorily retired. Two of the officers were also demoted ahead of their retirement.
The directive, confirmed through a wireless message dated March 4, 2025, was issued by the Force Secretary. It revealed that Igweh, who had recently been promoted to Assistant Inspector General (AIG) and was assigned to head Zone 7 Police Headquarters in Abuja, was demoted to Commissioner of Police before his forced retirement. Similarly, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Simon Lough was demoted to Assistant Commissioner of Police prior to his departure.
Other affected officers include AIG Idowu Owohunwa, retired as of February 10, 2025, CP Bennett Igweh, who retired effective May 1, 2023, CP Aina Emmanuel A., retired as of February 10, 2025, CP Salama Wakili Abdul, who retired on February 26, 2025, ACP Simon A. Iough (SAN), retired August 1, 2022, and ACP Dakon Philip Sarpiya, retired on December 12, 2023.
The retirements came after an extraordinary meeting of the Police Service Commission on February 20, 2025, which led to the decision. A message detailing the retirements was marked “CH:8400/FS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.1/346” and titled “Discharge and Retirement,” directing the immediate removal of the officers’ names from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
The official message ordered the deletion of the officers’ names from the payroll and instructed that their retirements be recorded accordingly.
