One of Nigeria’s most recognisable police officers has hung up his uniform.
Deputy Inspector-General of Police Frank Mba has retired from the Nigeria Police Force after 34 years of service, his exit forming part of a broader leadership transition triggered by the confirmation of Tunji Disu as the 23rd indigenous Inspector-General of Police.
Mba, who joined the Force in May 1992 as a cadet Inspector officer and graduated as the best cadet in academics at the Nigeria Police Academy in Kano, rose through every rank of the Force over three decades before bowing out as DIG in charge of the Department of Training and Development.
His retirement was not a disciplinary action or a personal decision taken in isolation, it was the product of a longstanding police tradition. In Nigeria’s police institution, the appointment of a new Inspector-General of Police customarily triggers the retirement of senior officers who are either of the same course or senior in rank to the incoming IGP.
Mba and Disu both enlisted on the same date May 18, 1992 making Mba among those expected to exit once Disu assumed the top position.
Reports indicated President Bola Tinubu halted a planned mass retirement of about 30 senior officers including Mba shortly after Disu’s appointment, in a move seen as an effort to prevent fresh legal battles and maintain operational stability during the sensitive leadership transition.
The halt was temporary. The retirements have since proceeded.
Mba served as Commissioner of Police in Ogun State and as Commissioner of Police in charge of the Border Patrol Force at Force Headquarters. He also held operational commands as Area Commander in Ajah and FESTAC in Lagos. He represented Nigeria in international assignments, including the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Liberia between 2006 and 2007, for which he received a UN Medal.
