Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The letter was brief, but its weight was crushing. A police constable, trained to handle explosives and chemical threats, had finally reached his breaking point. After years of service, multiple failed attempts to secure a redeployment, and a daily battle with depression and emotional exhaustion, Police Constable Aibana Daniel did what many in the force would never dare: he resigned. His letter, dated August 10, 2026, has since gone viral, exposing a side of Nigeria's police force that is rarely spoken about in public – the quiet, suffocating toll it can take on the men and women sworn to protect the nation.
Daniel, attached to the Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) Base 19 in Ibadan, Oyo State, addressed his resignation letter through the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, to the Inspector-General of Police at Force Headquarters, Abuja. He cited a "long period of personal struggle, emotional distress, and careful consideration" as the reasons for his departure. According to multiple reports, the constable said his decision was not born out of a lack of appreciation for the force, but rather a necessary step to protect his mental health and restore stability to his life.
Daniel's letter paints a harrowing picture of a man who tried everything to stay. He made several attempts to seek demobilisation and redeployment to another department, hoping to regain his motivation and serve more effectively. But his requests were repeatedly denied. "Despite my repeated efforts and requests, I was not granted release from my current department," he wrote. He continued to perform his duties to the best of his ability, hoping circumstances would improve. Instead, they worsened. "My state of mind has been greatly affected, and I have been battling daily feelings of depression, frustration, and emotional exhaustion," he stated. His passion, morale, and overall wellbeing continued to decline until he could no longer endure the situation without serious consequences to his mental and emotional state.
The Oyo State Police Command has since confirmed the development, describing it as an "internal affair" while confirming that the Commissioner of Police, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, has ordered a thorough investigation into the matter. The command's response, however, does little to address the deeper questions raised by Daniel's resignation. How does the Nigeria Police Force identify and respond when an officer says he is struggling? What welfare assessments are carried out? Why were his redeployment requests rejected? Daniel's resignation is not an isolated incident; it is a symptom of a systemic failure to prioritise the mental and emotional wellbeing of officers who are routinely expected to operate under extreme conditions.
The constable's resignation has reignited long-standing debates about welfare, psychological support, and whether Nigeria's security institutions are adequately listening to the men and women on the front lines. In recent months, police officers have protested over delayed promotions, poor pension payments, and a lack of basic amenities. The Nigeria Police Force has repeatedly struggled with low morale, a problem that has only been compounded by the enormous pressure of combating insurgency, banditry, and other security challenges across the country. Daniel's decision to resign, and his willingness to publicly articulate the reasons for it, has forced the nation to confront an uncomfortable truth: the men and women who protect us are themselves in need of protection.
Daniel's resignation letter expressed gratitude to the Nigeria Police Force for the opportunity to serve, and for the experience, training, and professional development he gained during his years of service. "I remain grateful for the opportunity to have served my country and for the experience, training, and professional development I have gained during my years of service," he stated. But gratitude does not erase the pain of a career cut short by a system that would not listen. His departure is a loss not just for the force, but for a country that can ill afford to lose dedicated officers to preventable causes. The Oyo State Police Command's investigation may uncover the details of his case, but it cannot undo the damage already done.
For every officer struggling in silence, Daniel's resignation is a warning. For the Nigeria Police Force, it is a wake-up call. The question now is whether the force will finally address the systemic issues that drove one of its own to walk away, or whether Daniel's resignation will become just another forgotten story in a long line of institutional failures. As Daniel himself wrote, his decision was "a necessary step toward protecting my mental health and restoring stability to my life." The force, and the nation, would do well to ask why that step had to be taken at all.
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