A seasoned operational strategist with over three decades of law enforcement experience, Monday Agbonika, fdc, has officially assumed office as the new Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 5, overseeing Edo and Delta State Police Commands.
Agbonika succeeds AIG Salman-Dogo Garba (psc, mnips), who recently retired from active service. His arrival marks a seamless transition of leadership at the Zonal Headquarters in Benin City, returning a familiar, highly decorated commander to the region.
Agbonika, hails from Idah Local Government Area of Kogi State, Agbonika’s journey in the Nigeria Police Force began on May 18, 1992, when he enlisted as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police at the Nigeria Police Academy Annex in Kaduna.
Over the next 34 years, his career traversed virtually every critical facet of policing—from high-stakes criminal investigations to tactical divisional commands, administrative oversight, and international peace-building operations.
Before his latest appointment, Agbonika served directly on the ground as the Commissioner of Police for Edo State. Following his promotion to the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police in May 2026, his redeployment to Zone 5 places him at the helm of security for both Edo and Delta states. His previous executive roles also include serving as Commissioner of Police, Mounted Troop, within the Department of Operations at Force Headquarters, Abuja.
Agbonika’s reputation as an astute investigator was forged early in his career while leading the Anti-Robbery Squad in Plateau State and later directing the Anti-Fraud Section of the Zonal Criminal Investigation Department (Zone 2) in Lagos State, where he spearheaded high-profile cases to critical breakthroughs.
His operational command footprint across Lagos State is equally extensive. He previously served as Divisional Police Officer (DPO) across major key divisions, including:
Festac
Surulere
Oke-Odo
Isokoko
Central Police Station (Adeniji Adele), Lagos Island
He subsequently advanced to lead operations as Area Commander across strategically vital corridors in Ekiti, Lagos, and Ogun States.
Academic Rigor and International Distinction
Beyond operational command, AIG Agbonika is widely recognised within security circles as a scholar-cop whose academic background directly informs his approach to modern democratic policing.
The AIG holds a Bsc (Hons) in Psychology from the University of Jos, Msc in Organizational Psychology also from the University of Jos, another Masters Degree in Security and Strategic Studies from the University of Ibadan, and a Ph.D in Peace and Conflict Studies (In View) in the University of Ibadan.
He has completed all mandatory career training at the Police Staff College in Jos and is a Fellow of both the Society for Peace Studies and Practice (fspsp) and the prestigious National Defence College Nigeria (fdc).
Agbonika’s community policing credentials carry international weight. He served as Public Information Officer for the United Nations Police Mission in Liberia, collaborating with personnel from 39 nations to help draft the Liberian National Police Media Policy. In 2015, he attended the United States Institute of Peace workshop on community policing and countering violent extremism in Washington, D.C. He is also an alumnus of the U.S. State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP).
Throughout his service, Agbonika has earned multiple honours for leadership and public engagement, including:
- Commissioner of Police Commendation for Courage (Jos, Plateau State)
- Most People-Friendly Police Station Award (Conferred in South Africa)
- Finalist, “Spirit of Lagos” Award for exemplary conduct in public service
Agbonika is happily married with children and enjoys reading and traveling in his spare time.
In his maiden address following his assumption of duty, AIG Agbonika solicited the active support and partnership of the residents of Edo and Delta states. He emphasized that actionable, timely intelligence from the public remains the most powerful weapon in dismantling criminal networks and keeping communities safe.
”The fight against crime and criminality within the Zone relies on a strong partnership between the police and the public. Timely, credible information from citizens is vital to proactive law enforcement.”
E Signed
SP TIJANI A. MOMOH, Anipr
Police Public Relations Officer,
Zone 5 Headquarters,
Benin City.
29th July, 2026
