The Nigeria Police Force has directed commands and formations nationwide to remove personnel who have completed 35 years of service from their duty posts and compile their details for submission to police authorities.
The directive was issued in a wireless message dated September 25, 2026, from the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters Secretariat in Abuja, following a court order restraining the Force from reinstating affected cadet force entrants.
Brandspur News reports that the communication referenced Suit No. NICN/KN/51/2026, filed by Advocacy for Human Rights and Cultural Values for Development Initiatives against the Inspector-General of Police and five others. The police authorities said the court order remains in force and instructed commands to give it immediate effect.
Commissioners of Police and heads of formations were specifically directed to identify Force entrants who have completed 35 years of service and relieve them of their current duty posts. They were also ordered to compile and forward the names of all personnel affected by the directive.
The instruction was issued under the authority of the Inspector-General of Police Secretariat and marked “M/IMMEDIATE”, signalling that recipients were expected to treat the matter as urgent and ensure compliance across their respective commands and formations.
The latest communication also referred to an earlier Inspector-General of Police Secretariat letter dated September 25, 2026, as well as another police communication issued on July 31, 2026, relating to the same matter.
The directive has been circulated across a broad range of police structures, including state and zonal commands, the Department of Operations, Force Criminal Investigation Department, Department of Logistics and Supply, Force Intelligence Department, Department of Training and Development, and Department of Research and Planning.
Specialised formations covered by the communication include the Police Mobile Force, Border Patrol, Counter-Terrorism Force, Air Wing, Maritime Police, Airport Police, Port Police and Bomb Disposal Unit, among others.
The order also extends to police colleges and formations responsible for areas such as armament, information and communications technology, welfare, education, tracking and police provost services.
The Force’s latest action places the affected personnel directly under the implementation of the court order, with commands required to complete the compilation of names and enforce the instruction across the country.
