By Barth Ikiebe
The new Assistant Inspector General, Zone 7 Police Command, Mohammed Gumel, has formally taken over from the outgoing AIG, Benneth Igweh, at a colourful ceremony in the Command’s headquarters, Abuja.
The official transition took place on Thursday 13th February, 2025, marking a seamless leadership transfer in line with the operational and administrative procedures of the Force.
AIG Benneth Igweh, who was the 34th AIG of the Zone, has diligently served in this capacity and expressed gratitude to the officers and stakeholders for their unwavering support during his tenure.
He highlighted key achievements and urged continued dedication to uphold law and order.
In his assumption of office speech, the 35th Assistant Inspector General of Police in Charge of Zone 7 Headquarters, Abuja, AIG Mohammed Gumel, stated that;
“It is with profound humility and gratitude that I stand before you today, as I assume duty as the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 7, comprising the Federal Capital Territory and Niger State.
I am deeply honored to have been entrusted with this critical responsibility, and I wish to express my sincerest appreciation to the Inspector-General of Police for the trust and confidence he and his management team have reposed in me.
As I take on this new role, I am keenly aware of the enormous challenges that lie ahead, particularly in the areas of crime prevention, community policing, and public safety. However, I am confident that by working together, this Zone can overcome these challenges and build a safer, more secure and prosperous environment that will be leading others in drastic crime reduction and keeping the population away from the fear of crime. This is my vision for all communities residing in FCT and Niger State, which I believe can be realized by working together with honest commitment.
As I reflect on the legacy of excellence left behind by my predecessors, including the current Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, former IGPs Suleiman Abba, Usman Alkali Baba and the current DIG DFA, DIG Bala Ciroma among others. At this point, I’m inspired to pledge that I will build on these legacies and achievements to take the zone to a greater heights.
To achieve this vision, I pledge to work closely with all stakeholders, including community leaders, traditional rulers, and other law enforcement agencies, to address the security challenges facing our zone. We will leverage on the available technology, prioritize intelligence-led policing, promote community engagement, and collaboration to adequately eliminate fear of crime, prevent and combat crime in all parts of the zonal command.
Furthermore, I want to assure our officers and men that I will prioritize your welfare, training, and development. We will work together to build a more effective, efficient, and responsive police force that is capable of meeting the evolving security needs of our communities.
To all police officers and communities in all parts of this Zone, I want to assure you that I am committed to ensuring that the police force under my command is accountable, transparent, and responsive for the greater good of the people we serve. We will work tirelessly to prevent and combat crime, protect the vulnerable, and promote the overall public safety.
Once again, I thank you all for your presence and support.
Finally, I call on all of you to work together to build a safer, more secure, and prosperous Zone 7.”
AIG Mohammed Gumel, reaffirmed his commitment to maintaining security, enhancing community policing, and fostering inter-agency collaboration.
He called for the cooperation of officers and the public to achieve the Force’s mandate of ensuring safety and justice.
Our Correspondent reports that the new AIG was received by the outgoing AIG Benneth Igweh, Members of the Zone 7 Management team, the Zone 7 PCRC Chairman; Chief Tijani Zubair, Officers and men of the Zone, and other invited guests.
