They alleged that DPOs are refusing to release officers to report to their new formations, citing manpower shortages, even when the affected personnel have received official transfer signals from the police authorities.

Junior police officers in Cross River and Akwa Ibom states have accused some Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) of deliberately blocking their transfers to other formations, alleging that the practice has left some personnel stranded in their current stations for months despite having official transfer signals.

The officers, who spoke to SaharaReporters on condition of anonymity for fear of intimidation or sanctions from police authorities, said the situation is particularly widespread in divisions within Calabar and Uyo, although similar complaints have been recorded in other parts of the two states.

They alleged that DPOs are refusing to release officers to report to their new formations, citing manpower shortages, even when the affected personnel have received official transfer signals from the police authorities.

According to the officers, the practice has affected as many as 50 personnel across different divisions, with some allegedly threatening to resign if the situation persists.

One of the officers described the situation as “getting out of hand,” questioning why junior personnel should be prevented from reporting to their new places of assignment after their transfers have been approved.

“DPOs in Cross River and Akwa Ibom states are blocking junior officers’ transfers and the Commissioners of Police are doing nothing about it. Junior officers are treated like dogs,” the officer said.

“How can someone work their transfer to a certain office and the DPO or officer in charge would refuse to release them to resume work in their new office? It’s getting out of hand. Are we not public servants, and is it not our right to work wherever we desire?”

The officers alleged that DPOs in Calabar and Uyo jurisdictions have particularly been refusing to release personnel to their new formations on the grounds that there are insufficient personnel to replace them.

“But it is just wickedness against junior officers. They should tell us the reason why they don't let officers leave. Are we not public servants? Don't we have the right to work anywhere?” one of the affected officers said.

‘New Policy’ Not Known To Higher Authorities

The police sources said they have been told that officers could not leave their current divisions unless replacements are first posted to take over their duties.

According to one source, however, the arrangement is not an official policy communicated to the affected officers.

“That's the new policy they’re practising and the authority isn't aware of it,” the source said.

The sources said the issue has persisted since January 2026, with some transfers dating back to the previous year still allegedly pending.

The affected divisions in Cross River State, according to the sources, include formations in Calabar as well as Ekori, Ogoja, Ikom and Abi.

In Akwa Ibom, the sources identified Oron, Ikot Ekpene and Eket among the areas where similar complaints have been raised.

One officer said the problem is more pronounced in Calabar and Uyo but not limited to those areas.

“Others parts too, but mostly in Calabar and Uyo, then Ekori, Ogoja, Ikom and Abi divisions in Cross River State, while in Akwa Ibom is Oron, Ikot Ekpene and Eket,” the source said.

Officers Say Complaints To Commands Were Ignored

The officers said formal complaints have already been made to the Cross River and Akwa Ibom State Police Commands, but alleged that no meaningful action have been taken.

Asked whether the complaints were formally documented, one source said affected officers had copies of their transfer signals.

“Yes, everybody is with a copy of their transfer signal to the place they were transferred to, but the DPOs in the divisions are refusing to release them to report to their new places,” the source said.

The officers said the transfer signals were not necessarily withdrawn when they were prevented from leaving their current formations.

“It is not withdrawn. Officers can report at any time to their new location if the DPO releases them,” one source said.

The source alleged that some DPOs are more concerned about retaining personnel than considering the personal circumstances that prompted officers to seek transfers.

“The main thing is that their DPO doesn't want to know what motivated the person to work his transfer,” the source said.

Officers Cite Transport, Health Challenges

Some of the affected personnel, according to the sources, sought transfers because of transportation difficulties, health concerns or other personal circumstances.

The officers said one of them specifically sought a transfer to a nearby police station because of transportation challenges but the officer has remained at their current station for six months after the transfer was approved.

“We might have pressing issues. Like one of the affected officers, the officer is having transportation issues; that was why the officer worked their transfer to a nearby police station, but the officer has not been released for six months now,” one of the officers said.

The sources also said some personnel are dealing with health challenges and sought postings closer to their homes or medical support networks.

One source explained that welfare considerations are particularly important for police officers dealing with health-related difficulties.

“Police don't joke with the welfare of personnel, especially those on sick leave or having challenges with health,” the source said.

“So the personnel have to look for a nearby police station that will relieve him or her of the stress of health risk and settle down.”

The officers said blocking such transfers could worsen the circumstances of personnel who had already sought administrative approval to move closer to their families or places where they could better manage their personal challenges.

‘Some Officers Are Threatening To Resign’

The sources said the prolonged delays had generated frustration among junior personnel, with some threatening to resign from the Nigeria Police Force.

They said the number of affected personnel could be around 50 across different divisions, although the figure could not be independently verified.

The officers also recalled a previous case involving a police corporal whose transfer to another state was allegedly blocked despite an approval from the Inspector-General of Police.

SaharaReporters reported on September 23, 2026, that the husband of a female police corporal serving in Ebonyi State had threatened separation from his wife after the Ebonyi State Police Command allegedly refused to release her for an inter-state transfer approved by IGP Tunji Disu.

In that case, the transfer had reportedly been approved on compassionate grounds to enable the officer to join her husband in Ogun State.

The officers who spoke to SaharaReporters said the publication of that case eventually led to the corporal being released.

The officers said they were hopeful that public attention to their complaints would similarly prompt the authorities to review the pending transfers.

‘Must A Replacement Arrive Before An Officer Leaves?’

The officers also questioned whether there is any formal requirement that a replacement must be posted to a division before an officer whose transfer has been approved could leave.

They said the practice has effectively created a situation in which DPOs could indefinitely delay transfers by claiming that their divisions lack adequate manpower.

The sources urged the police authorities to clarify the policy and ensure that junior personnel are not subjected to arbitrary restrictions after receiving approved transfer signals.

They also appealed to the Commissioners of Police in Cross River and Akwa Ibom states, as well as higher authorities within the Nigeria Police Force, to investigate the allegations and address the complaints.

The officers said they are not opposed to legitimate manpower considerations but insist that such concerns should not be used to indefinitely frustrate approved transfers, particularly where personnel have compelling welfare, health or family reasons for requesting new postings.

They further called for a transparent mechanism through which officers could appeal when their DPOs refuse to release them despite approved transfers.

SaharaReporters contacted the spokespersons for the Cross River State and Akwa Ibom State Police Commands, ASP Sunday Eitokpah Akata and DSP Timfon John, for a response to the allegations that approved transfers had been blocked and that some officers had been prevented from reporting to their new formations. 

The spokesperson for Cross River State Police Command, Akata, replied, saying, “Tell any of the officers who spoke based on anonymity to reach out to the command’s Admin Officer for redress with their respective signals of transfer.”

John had not responded to the request for comment at the time of filing this report.