A new Assistant Inspector-General of Police, AIG Simeon U. Akpanudom, has assumed duty as the 56th Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Alagbon Close, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Akpanudom officially took over leadership of the strategic investigative arm of the Nigeria Police Force on Monday, March 30, 2026, succeeding the current Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Rilwan Disu, who previously served as the 55th AIG in charge of the FCID Annex before his appointment as the nation’s police chief.
IGP Disu was appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and subsequently confirmed by the Nigerian Police Council as the 23rd indigenous Inspector-General of Police of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
AIG Akpanudom, a seasoned police officer with decades of experience, was born on August 4, 1967, in Ukana Ikot Ntuen, Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. He joined the Nigeria Police Force on May 18, 1992, as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and has since built a distinguished career marked by professionalism and dedication to service.
Before his elevation to the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Akpanudom served as Commissioner of Police in charge of the Anti-Fraud Section at the FCID Annex, Lagos, where he played a significant role in tackling financial crimes and strengthening the investigative capacity of officers within the department.
Throughout his career, he has held several tactical, operational, investigative, administrative, and strategic positions across different commands and formations of the police force. He also served in the United Nations Mission in Kosovo, where he earned international recognition for his contributions.
Academically, Akpanudom holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Geography and Regional Planning from the University of Calabar, an Advanced Certificate in Industrial Safety and Control from the University of Port Harcourt, and a Master’s degree in Security and Strategic Studies from the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna.
He has also attended several high-level professional courses both locally and internationally, including the Strategic Leadership Command Course and the Higher Defence Management Course at the National Defence College, Abuja.
His service record has earned him numerous honours and commendations, including the Inspector-General of Police Commendation (Sword of Honour) as the Best All-Round Cadet in ASP Course 17/1992, as well as the United Nations Medal (UNMIK) for his role in international peacekeeping operations. He also received awards as the Best Graduating Course Participant in key tactical and leadership training programmes.
Akpanudom is a Fellow of the National Defence College and a member of several professional bodies, including the Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered), the Nigerian Institute of Safety Professionals, and the International Association of Chiefs of Police. He is also a Jerusalem Pilgrim (JP).
In his remarks following the assumption of duty, the new AIG assured the public of the FCID Annex’s commitment to thorough and professional investigation of criminal cases, improved service delivery, and strengthened collaboration with relevant government agencies and the public.
He pledged that the department under his leadership would uphold the highest standards of professionalism, accountability, transparency, and respect for human rights, in line with the vision of the Inspector-General of Police.
Akpanudom also disclosed plans to enhance the capacity of detectives through world-class training and improved technological tools aimed at strengthening digital investigation capabilities and improving the efficiency of criminal investigations.
He further urged members of the public to remain law-abiding and to support the police by providing timely and credible information, noting that community cooperation remains essential in combating evolving and increasingly sophisticated criminal activities.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer of the FCID Annex, Lagos, ASP Mayegun Aminat, on behalf of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police.
