Female Police Corporal Remains in Ebonyi Despite IGP Approval to Join Husband

A female police corporal serving with the Ebonyi State Command of the Nigeria Police Force is facing prolonged separation from her husband after the state Commissioner of Police, CP Hope Urunwa, allegedly refused to release her to proceed on an inter-state transfer approved by the Inspector-General of Police.

The corporal, identified as EWONA NYAMA, F/No. 075703 W/PC, reportedly married her husband on December 27, 2025, following approval from the police authorities through a signal referenced as CH:3500/EBS/DFA/SHQ/VOL.7/247.

However, Reporters gathered that after her wedding during her annual leave in December, Nyama returned to the Ebonyi State capital, Abakaliki, and has reportedly remained separated from her husband since January 2026. 

Concerned about the prolonged separation, the police corporal subsequently applied to the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Tunji Dusi, for an inter-state transfer from Ebonyi to Ogun State, where her husband is based.

The application was reportedly approved by the IGP on June 1, 2026, on compassionate grounds.

A copy of the transfer signal obtained from Force Headquarters, Abuja, on Friday, bears reference number CH:5550/WEL/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.150/53 and is dated June 1, 2026.

The signal, addressed to the Commissioners of Police in Ebonyi and Ogun states, as well as the Department of Finance and Administration, was signed by CP Betty Enekpen Otimenyin, Commissioner of Police (Welfare), Department of Finance and Administration, Force Headquarters, Abuja.

Titled “Inter-State Transfers,” the signal reads:

“The Inspector-General of Police has approved the transfer of F/No 075703 W/PC EWONA NYAMA from Ebonyi State Police Command to Ogun State Police Command on compassionate grounds.

“Warn and release subject to proceed accordingly, please.”

The signal was also copied to the IGP’s Secretariat; the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Department of Finance and Administration; the Assistant Inspectors-General of Police, Zone 2 Lagos and Zone 9 Umuahia; as well as relevant Force Headquarters departments responsible for computer records, Force Orders, records and establishment.

Despite the approval from Force Headquarters, sources within the Ebonyi Command alleged that the corporal has not been released to proceed to Ogun State.

Her colleagues questioned why an IGP-approved compassionate transfer would allegedly be withheld by the state command.

One of the sources said the prolonged separation could place unnecessary strain on the young officer’s marriage.

“If the IGP has approved her transfer to rejoin her husband, why would the Commissioner of Police refuse to release her?” the source asked.

“How can a young policewoman who got married on December 27, 2025, remain separated from her husband for nine months and counting because the command has refused to release her despite an approved transfer?”

Reporters gathered that Nyama has made several attempts to meet with the Ebonyi Commissioner of Police to seek permission to proceed on the transfer.

According to police sources, she once visited the CP’s office alongside the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), but was allegedly prevented from meeting the Commissioner.

“At one point, she went to the CP’s office with the PPRO but was prevented from seeing the Commissioner. The PPRO later returned to tell her that the CP had refused to release her,” a source claimed.

Sources familiar with the matter attributed the alleged refusal to release Nyama to concerns over manpower shortages within the Ebonyi Command.

“CP reportedly said there is a shortage of manpower in the command and therefore cannot release her unless another personnel is posted to the command,” one source said.

However, the sources questioned whether a state command could continue to retain an officer despite an inter-state transfer already approved by the Inspector-General of Police.

Another colleague told SaharaReporters that the situation had become more pressing because Nyama’s husband is reportedly ill and currently has no one to adequately care for him.

The source said the couple had been separated for months and relied on video calls, despite having only recently married.

The development has reportedly generated concern among some officers within the command, with colleagues describing the situation as unusual and calling for the matter to be resolved administratively.

Reporters made several attempts to contact the Ebonyi State Commissioner of Police, CP Hope Urunwa, for clarification on the alleged refusal to release Nyama despite the IGP’s transfer approval.

The Command’s Police Public Relations Officer was also contacted.

However, neither the Commissioner nor the PPRO answered calls or responded to text messages seeking clarification as of the time of filing this report.