EXCLUSIVE: Nigerian Police IG Disu Yet To Appoint Ex-Force PRO Hundeyin’s Replacement, Giwa’s Role Limited To Social Media –Sources
Hundeyin, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, was removed from the position barely six months after he assumed office as the Force spokesperson in September 2025
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, is yet to officially appoint a substantive Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO) following the removal of Benjamin Hundeyin as the spokesperson for the Nigeria Police Force.
Hundeyin, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, was removed from the position barely six months after he assumed office as the Force spokesperson in September 2025
His removal reportedly followed a series of internal restructuring within the police hierarchy shortly after Disu’s appointment as the 23rd Inspector-General of Police by President Bola Tinubu.
Sources within the Force Headquarters in Abuja told SaharaReporters on Friday that although discussions about a replacement are ongoing, no substantive appointment has been made as of the time of filing this report.
Earlier reports had suggested that a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Aliyu Giwa might emerge as the next Force Public Relations Officer.
Giwa previously served as Assistant Force Public Relations Officer at the police annex in Obalende, Lagos, between 2017 and 2022, and currently works as a cybersecurity specialist at the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre.
However, sources familiar with the development told SaharaReporters that Giwa has not been appointed as the Force PRO and is presently limited to handling the police’s social media operations rather than serving as the official spokesperson.
According to insiders, the position of Force Public Relations Officer is expected to be occupied by an officer of the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), in line with the Force’s communication structure, suggesting that the process for appointing a substantive spokesperson is still ongoing.
The sources further alleged that attempts are being made in some quarters to mount pressure on the Inspector-General to confirm Giwa for the role, with claims that certain bloggers have been mobilised to push narratives aimed at influencing the decision.
“The Police Force PRO has not been appointed yet. Aliyu Giwa is limited to social media operations and also, a DCP will be appointed to that position,” a top police source said.
“By virtue of Giwa’s current position, he is close to bloggers, so he is trying to use them to force Disu to appoint him. That explains the reports you see online.”
Hundeyin’s removal came amid broader leadership adjustments within the police following Disu’s emergence as Inspector-General.
Before his appointment as Force Public Relations Officer, Hundeyin served as spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command.
As of press time, the police authorities had yet to issue an official statement announcing a successor to the former spokesperson, leaving the position effectively vacant while consultations on a replacement continue.
