The Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun has transferred the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 7 Abuja, Usaini Gumel, to Community Policing, Research and Planning for allegedly describing the declaration of state of emergency in Rivers State and suspension of Governor Sim Fubara as unconstitutional.
On March 18, President Bola Tinubu in a nationwide broadcast declared a state of emergency in the oil-rich Rivers state and suspended the governor, his deputy and all lawmakers in the state assembly for six months.
Insiders alleged that Mr Gumel expressed his opinion about the declaration of state of emergency casually in his office during an informal conversation with some of his colleagues, but one of them betrayed his trust and reported him to the IGP.
Mr Gumel, who assumed duty at Zone 7, Abuja on February 19, was not formally queried or asked to respond to the allegations before the transfer.
“The IG was swift. Gumel allegedly made the remark on 29th March, 2025, and on the same day, the IG ordered the force secretary to transfer him to Community Policing. The official wireless signal was issued the following day,” said an inside source.
DAILY NIGERIAN gathered that Mr Gumel was immediately replaced by AIG Mobolaji Victor Olaiya in a signal dated March 30, 2025 with reference number: TH.5361/FS/FHQ/ABJ/SUB.5/314.
The posting was viewed as a “severe punishment” to any senior police officer who is not in the IGP’s good books.
While Zone 7, which oversees Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory and Niger State, is viewed as a strategic and “lucrative” beat, Community Policing, Research and Planning is considered to be a “punitive beat”.
When contacted, the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, didn’t respond to our correspondent’s inquiry on the matter.
