CALABAR — The Zone 6 Headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force has formally welcomed Assistant Inspector General of Police, (AIG) Rashid Bello Afegbua, as the 34th Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of the zone, with expectations high for strengthened security and improved policing across the region.
A statement issued by the Zonal Public Relations Officer, DSP Jefferson Osupe, said AIG Afegbua officially assumed duty on August 3, 2026, at the Zone 6 Headquarters in Calabar.
A seasoned legal practitioner and accomplished police officer, AIG Afegbua brings to the office more than three decades of distinguished service in the Nigeria Police Force.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the former Bendel State University, Ekpoma (now Ambrose Alli University), a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B Hons.) from the University of Calabar, and a Barrister-at-Law qualification from the Nigerian Law School, Abuja.
Born on August 22, 1968, into the Afegbua Royal Family of Okpella in Edo State, he joined the Nigeria Police Force in 1992 as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police after completing the National Youth Service Corps programme in Cross River State.
Throughout his career, the new AIG has built a reputation for excellence in operational policing, administration, intelligence-driven security operations, and technology-based crime prevention strategies.
His professional journey has seen him occupy several strategic command and operational positions across the country, earning recognition for his leadership, discipline, and commitment to duty.
Before his latest appointment, Afegbua served as Commissioner of Police in the Department of Training at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, where he spearheaded key capacity-building initiatives and police reform programmes.
He also served as Commissioner of Police in Cross River State, where he was credited with strengthening security architecture and promoting effective community engagement.
The new Zone 6 helmsman has attended numerous professional and leadership development courses within and outside Nigeria, including programmes at the Police Mobile Force Training College, Gwoza; Police Staff College, Jos; National Institute of Police Studies, Abuja; Interpol Week; Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC); and the Digital Rights Inclusion Forum in Zambia, among others.
A member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP), and the Institute of Corporate Administration (ICAD), AIG Afegbua is widely regarded as a strong advocate of professionalism, ethical leadership, and institutional reforms within the police force.
With his assumption of office, stakeholders expect renewed efforts toward enhancing security, strengthening inter-agency cooperation, deepening community policing initiatives, and improving law enforcement effectiveness across the states under Zone 6 jurisdiction.
Police authorities expressed confidence that his wealth of experience and leadership credentials would further advance the vision of the Inspector-General of Police in promoting a more professional, people-oriented, and technologically driven police force.
AIG Afegbua is married with children and enjoys travelling, reading, and watching movies.
