Abuja, March 6, 2026 – The newly inaugurated Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has removed Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Benjamin Hundeyin from his position as the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO) of the Nigeria Police Force. The decision, which took effect on Thursday morning, March 5, 2026, marks one of the earliest and most prominent administrative reshuffles under the new IGP’s leadership.
The removal comes exactly six months after Hundeyin assumed the high-profile role on September 5, 2025, under the previous Inspector-General, Kayode Egbetokun. POLITICS NIGERIA exclusively reported the development, citing multiple sources within the Force Headquarters in Abuja who confirmed that the directive was issued early Thursday—less than 24 hours after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu formally swore in Disu as the 23rd substantive IGP at the State House on Wednesday, March 4, 2026.
While the Nigeria Police Force is yet to issue an official statement detailing the reasons for Hundeyin’s exit, insiders describe the move as part of a broader restructuring exercise that typically accompanies the arrival of a new Inspector-General. “The Force Public Relations Officer has been removed this morning,” a senior officer familiar with the development told POLITICS NIGERIA on condition of anonymity. “We don’t know who will take over from him… unfortunately, he was affected by the new changes.”
The source added that such high-level personnel adjustments are standard practice when a new IGP assumes office, as the leadership seeks to assemble a trusted core team aligned with its vision and operational priorities. “Many expected Hundeyin to serve a longer tenure because of his expertise and professionalism, but the new IGP wants to handpick his own people,” the source explained.
The atmosphere at the Force Public Relations Department has been described as tense, with officers and staff awaiting formal communication on Hundeyin’s successor and the next steps in the department’s leadership transition. The FPRO position is one of the most visible and strategically important roles in the Nigeria Police Force, responsible for managing public perception, media relations, crisis communication, and the dissemination of official information on police operations, investigations, and policy matters.
ACP Benjamin Hundeyin, a native of Badagry in Lagos State, brought a strong professional pedigree to the office. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Lagos State University and a Master’s degree in Legal Criminology and Security Psychology from the University of Ibadan. He is a member of several prestigious professional bodies, including the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and the International Public Relations Association (IPRA).
Before his appointment as FPRO, Hundeyin served as the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Zone 2 Command in Lagos and gained international exposure through his deployment with the United Nations–African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), where he handled public information and media engagement duties in a complex peacekeeping environment. During his six-month tenure as FPRO, Hundeyin was widely regarded for his articulate communication style, measured responses to public controversies, and efforts to modernize the Force’s digital and traditional media engagement strategies.
The change at the top of the public relations department occurs at a pivotal moment for the Nigeria Police Force. IGP Disu, who was confirmed substantive IGP by the Nigeria Police Council on March 2, 2026, and sworn in by President Tinubu two days later, has already signaled an aggressive reform agenda. In his inaugural address to senior officers on Wednesday, Disu inaugurated an eight-member State Police Implementation Committee chaired by Professor Olu Ogunsakin and pledged zero tolerance for human rights violations, corruption, and impunity within the ranks. He also emphasized empowering independent internal oversight units such as the Public Complaints Unit and the X-Squad.
Hundeyin’s removal is the first major personnel decision announced under Disu’s leadership, though sources indicate that additional changes across commands, directorates, and strategic units may follow as the new IGP consolidates control and aligns the Force with his stated priorities of professionalism, accountability, and community-oriented policing.
The Nigeria Police Force is expected to announce a replacement for the FPRO position in the coming days to ensure continuity in its communication functions, particularly amid ongoing national security challenges, public scrutiny over police conduct, and the need for clear messaging on reforms such as the proposed decentralization of policing powers.
Neither the Force Headquarters nor the Office of the IGP had issued a formal statement on Hundeyin’s removal or the rationale behind it as of Thursday afternoon. Efforts to obtain a reaction from ACP Hundeyin were unsuccessful, though colleagues described him as composed and professional throughout the transition.
The development underscores the dynamic nature of leadership transitions within Nigeria’s security architecture, where new chiefs often move swiftly to reshape key departments. As IGP Disu begins his tenure, the removal of the FPRO signals that significant administrative and operational realignments may be forthcoming in the weeks ahead.
