BREAKING: IGP Removes FCT Police Commissioner, Deputy
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) has ordered the provisional posting of two senior officers to new commands pending final approval by the Police Service Commission (PSC).
According to an internal wireless message from Force Headquarters, Abuja, the postings affect Commissioner of Police (CP) Miller Gajere Dantawaye, who has been deployed to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Wilson Aniefiok Akpan, who has been posted to Kogi State.
The directive stated that the postings are provisional and subject to confirmation by the PSC. It also instructed that any officer assuming a higher duty post should not adorn the rank associated with the new position until formal approval is granted.
“Posting of Senior Officers. The Inspector-General of Police has ordered the provisional posting of the following officers as indicated against their names: To CP FCT- Compol Miller Gajere Dantawaye; To CP Kogi — Decompol Wilson Aniefiok Akpan pending the approval of the Police Service Commission (Polscom),” it reads.
The message, referenced TH.5361/FS/FHQ/ABJ/SUB.6/213, was circulated to all zonal and state commands, formations, and departments of the Nigeria Police Force.
This development effectively signals the removal of Ajao Saka Adewale as the Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Adewale assumed office in March 2025, succeeding Assistant Inspector General Tunji Disu, who was redeployed to head the Special Protection Unit at the Force Headquarters.
Dantawaye, who was appointed as the Kogi State Commissioner of Police in January, is now expected to take over as the new FCT Commissioner, pending approval by the PSC.
The change comes about a week after human rights activist Omoyele Sowore publicly called for Adewale’s removal over his handling of the case involving the death of Arise News anchor Somtochukwu Maduagwu, popularly known as Sommie, and a security guard, Barnabas Danlami.
Sommie and Danlami were killed during a violent armed robbery in Abuja on September 29, 2025. The 29-year-old journalist, who was also a trained lawyer, was born on December 26, 1995.
The armed robbery occurred in the early hours of Monday, September 29, at her residence in the Katampe district of Abuja. According to eyewitnesses, over 15 armed robbers stormed a 16-apartment compound around 3 a.m.
Sommie reportedly jumped from her third-floor apartment in a desperate attempt to escape the robbers. She was later brought in dead to Maitama General Hospital at around 4:30 a.m.
Initial reports suggested possible medical negligence, but the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) clarified that she was already deceased upon arrival.
The police later announced the arrest of 12 suspects in connection with the tragic incident.
Prior to that, Commissioner Adewale had publicly addressed the case in an interview with Arise News, where he gave his account of the events.
Reacting to Adewale’s statement in a Facebook post on October 2 titled, ‘Still On Arise News Producer Somtochukwu Maduagwu “Sommie”‘s Tragic Death: The Commissioner of Police of the FCT, Wale Ajao and the Posture of Failure,’ Sowore called for Adewale’s removal.
He faulted Adewale for admitting that armed robbers operated in the heart of Abuja for over an hour and a half without police intervention, calling it a glaring example of incompetence.
Sowore also condemned the Commissioner’s handling of information surrounding the death of Sommie, questioning the lack of adequate emergency response and medical care in the capital city.
He argued that Ajao’s remarks and posture during the interview exposed the unseriousness of the police leadership and the collapse of Nigeria’s security and healthcare institutions.
Sowore said, “The first thing that struck me about FCT Commissioner of Police Adewale Ajao when he was interviewed on Arise News yesterday wasn’t his words, but the plethora of award plaques carefully arranged behind him, Nigeria’s national symbols of empty recognition.
“And yet, in front of those plaques, he sat to ignorantly announce that armed robbers operated in the heart of Abuja for a full 1 hour and 30 minutes without any police intervention.
“As if that disgrace wasn’t enough, he capped his puerile briefing with a most ridiculous conclusion, that Sommie, the Arise News producer, was “rushed” to the hospital but doctors could not revive her after performing CPR.”
“It was a damning display, as he sat comfortably throughout the nauseating interview, not just of failure, but of how deeply unserious and broken the security architecture and the medical emergency care situation of Nigeria is,” he said.
“If CP Wale Ajao served in a proper police force, he would have been fired the very minute he concluded that embarrassing interview, if not even before.”
