The Peacekeeping Hall of the Force Headquarters in Abuja was filled with ceremony, reflection and renewed commitment on Tuesday as the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, formally decorated newly promoted senior officers of the Nigeria Police Force, marking another chapter in the institution’s leadership evolution.
Against the backdrop of ongoing police reforms and rising public expectations, the decoration ceremony symbolised more than new insignia. It represented trust, responsibility and a call to ethical, results-driven leadership at a time when policing in Nigeria faces complex security and social challenges.
At the event, one Assistant Inspector-General of Police was elevated to the rank of Deputy Inspector-General of Police, seven Commissioners of Police were promoted to Assistant Inspectors-General, while thirteen Deputy Commissioners of Police were confirmed as substantive Commissioners of Police.
The promotions followed what police authorities described as a rigorous, merit-based and transparent exercise conducted by the Police Service Commission, which approved the elevation of 1,210 officers nationwide.
Among those decorated was DIG Mohammed Usaini Gumel, whose elevation placed him among the top leadership echelon of the Force. Also decorated were newly promoted Assistant Inspectors-General Ihebom M. Chukwuma, Olatokunbo Maxwell Olabisi, Abaniwonda Surajudeen Olufemi, Lawal Babtunde Ayodeji, Emmanuel Agene, Alonyenu Francis Iduh and Vungmoh S. M. Kwaimo. Thirteen officers also received their new ranks as Commissioners of Police, including Johnson Ayodeji Babalola, Adepegba K. Adetoye, Tabitha Bako and Umar Ali Fagge, among others.
In his address, IGP Egbetokun described the promotions as a reflection of institutional confidence in the officers’ competence, character and readiness for higher responsibility. He reminded the promotes that the new ranks came with heightened expectations, stressing that leadership in the Nigeria Police Force must be anchored on professionalism, integrity and measurable results.
“This decoration is not merely ceremonial,” the IGP noted, charging the officers to translate their new status into improved operational effectiveness and enhanced public trust. He also commended the Police Service Commission for conducting the promotion process with diligence and transparency, reinforcing the credibility of the exercise.
Beyond the uniforms and insignia, the ceremony acknowledged the unseen sacrifices that accompany police service. The IGP paid tribute to the families of the promoted officers, recognising their support and endurance through years of postings, risks and demanding schedules.
The ceremony drew a distinguished audience, reflecting the national importance of police leadership. In attendance were the Governors of Delta and Jigawa States, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Francis Orohwedor Oborevwori and Mallam Umar A. Namadi, FCA; members of the National Assembly; former Deputy Governor of Edo State and Director-General of the National Institute for Sports, Comrade Philip Shaibu; as well as the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Dennis Guwor. Senior serving and retired police officers, alongside families and well-wishers, added to the solemn yet celebratory atmosphere.
For many of the officers decorated, the moment represented the culmination of decades of service—often in difficult and high-risk environments—and the beginning of a new phase marked by strategic decision-making and leadership influence.
As the ceremony concluded, the message from the police leadership was clear: rank must be matched by responsibility. With rising security demands across the country, the newly promoted officers are expected to embody ethical leadership, strengthen operational performance and contribute meaningfully to the ongoing transformation of the Nigeria Police Force.
Their new badges, while gleaming, now carry the weight of public expectation—and the responsibility to lead by example.
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