Egbetokun was taken unawares – Police sources
President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday, accepted the abrupt resignation of Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, citing family reasons, and appointed Assistant Inspector-General Tunji Disu as acting IGP amid Nigeria’s escalating security challenges.
A statement issued by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said Egbetokun, appointed in June 2023 for a four-year term set to end in 2027 under the amended Police Act, submitted his resignation earlier today. The move ends his tenure after just over two years, during which he focused on bolstering the nation’s internal security framework.
President Tinubu expressed gratitude for Egbetokun’s contributions, stating he acknowledged “his dedication, professionalism and steadfast commitment to strengthening internal security architecture during his tenure.”
To ensure continuity, Tinubu approved Disu’s immediate elevation to acting IGP, praising his successor’s credentials.
“The President is confident that AIG Disu’s experience, operational depth and demonstrated leadership capacity will provide steady and focused direction for the Nigeria Police Force during this critical period,” the release noted.
The President has pledged to convene the Nigeria Police Council soon for Disu’s substantive confirmation, followed by the Senate’s approval, as required by the Police Act 2020.
Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s priorities, declaring its “unwavering commitment to enhancing national security, strengthening institutional capacity and ensuring that the Nigeria Police Force remains professional, accountable and fully equipped to discharge its constitutional responsibilities.”
Disu, who recently headed the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex at Alagbon, Lagos, is expected to assume office immediately and oversee a nationwide command transition.
Sources from the Presidency and the Police Service Commission confirmed that Egbetokun was directed to prepare his handover notes after a meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, marking an abrupt end to his tenure that began in June 2023 and extended beyond the usual retirement age.
Disu, a career officer with over three decades of service, previously commanded the Intelligence Response Team and the Rapid Response Squad, earning a reputation for tech‑savvy, intelligence‑driven policing.
The appointment signals a strategic push to inject fresh tactical energy into the Nigeria Police Force amid rising security challenges and ongoing high‑profile investigations. Official statements from the Force Headquarters and the Presidency are expected shortly, with a formal handover ceremony slated for Louis Edet House in Abuja.
However, police sources said Egbetokun was taken unawares by his forced resignation.
He was said to have pleaded with the Presidency to give him a soft landing by giving him time to resign his appointment.
It was gathered that some prominent kings and chiefs from the South West were said to have intervened and pleaded with President Tinubu to accept his resignation, instead of outright removal.
There was wild jubilation all over police commands across the nation when Onanuga announced that Egbetokun had resigned, citing pressing family considerations.
According to our sources, there has been an avalanche of complaints from within police circles that Egbetokun had stretched his luck as he was supposed to have retired in 2024 before his tenure was extended for four years.
A police officer at the Lagos State Police Command told our correspondent that, “Egbetokun tenure extension has created lots of problems, as many people were denied promotion. Again, he was promoting his brothers, friends and girlfriends above hardworking police officers.
“There was nothing special about the special promotion that he was giving to his accolytes. His son was living a reckless lifestyle, extorting money from commissioners of police and other citizens and he couldn’t caution him.
“The man was not firm as an IGP; he was too weak. Well, I will not blame him for being too weak because he has health challenges, but he could have honourably resigned his appointment, instead, he waited to be forced out of office.
“He should have left ever since his colleagues retired, but he was busy playing politics and knocking people’s heads together. He lacked ideas as he was not bringing any innovations to curb internal insecurity. Most of the crimes that happened, especially in Kwara and Ondo states, were crimes that should have been curbed by the police, but the IGP did not do anything to nip the crimes in the bud, rather, he was using cybercrime law to bully people up and down.
“He was warned that leaving his job to be chasing Omoyele Sowore up and down would consume him, but he wouldn’t listen. He was busy organising Police games and having meetings with bankers, when the country was on fire.”
Another police source at the Rivers State Police Command, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said, “Even though Tunji Disu is supposed to go this April, he will do better, because he is still young, smart and healthy. Even if they extend his service to four years, he is still okay, considering his antecedent. We are happy that Egbetokun has been sacked and more happy that a competent hand has come in.”
The official statement said, “The President reiterates his administration’s unwavering commitment to enhancing national security, strengthening institutional capacity and ensuring that the Nigeria Police Force remains professional, accountable and fully equipped to discharge its constitutional responsibilities.
Olatunji Disu (born April 13, 1966), has been been appointed to the position of Inspector-General of The Nigeria Police, subject to confirmation by the Nigerian Senate. He was also the former commissioner of police in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. He was commissioner of police in Rivers State before he was deployed by IGP Egbetokun to Abuja as the commissioner of police in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. He is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the former head of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Police Force in Nigeria, the position previously held by Abba Kyari. He was the Principal Staff Officer to the acting Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun. He’s a graduate of English Education from Lagos State University and a holder of two master’s degrees, one in Administration from Adekunle Ajasin University, Ondo State, the other in Criminology, Security and Legal Psychology from Lagos State University.
Before his appointment as the IGP, Disu was incharge as the AIG Force Criminal Investigation Department, Alagbon, Lagos.
Meanwhile, Disu’s appointment will lead to the retirement of nine Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs).
The DIGs ranked above Disu currently oversee strategic units of the Force, including Finance and Administration; Operations; Logistics and Supply; Force Criminal Investigation Department; Training and Development; Research and Planning; Information and Communication Technology; and the Force Intelligence Bureau.
Sources said that although it is customary in the police—much like in the military—for senior officers to step down when a junior is elevated above them, there have been occasions where those affected opted to continue in service.
This is just as Daily Sun gathered authoritatively that the former IGP did not see his sudden removal from office coming as he felt confident of conducting the general election in 2027.
However, sources hinted that the recent involvement of Egbetokun’s son in a scandalous N100 million deal may have given the former IGP a hint that his days in office were numbered.
It was gathered that some of his trusted friends had hinted to the IGP about the scandal and his possible removal from office, if nothing was done to salvage the situation.
To debunk the scandal, Egbetokun brought all retired former IGPs to the force headquarters on February 17, to garner support and convince the President that he was capable of leading the police by completing his tenure as extended by the National Assembly.
The former IGPs, who attended the meeting, at Louis Edet House, included IGPs Aliyu Attah, Sunday Ehindero, Mike Okiro, Ogbonna Onovo, Suleiman Abba and M.D. Abubakar.
Also in attendance were members of the Force Management Team, Assistant Inspectors-General of Police, Commissioners of Police and other senior officers.
Currently, the DIGs that may be affected include DIG Frank Mba (Training & Development), appointed in 2023; DIG Sadiq Idris Abubakar (FCID), appointed in 2025; DIG Bzigu Yakubu Kwazi (Operations), appointed in 2025; DIG Adebola Ayinde Hamzat (Logistics), appointed in 2025; DIG Idegwu Basil Okuoma (Research), appointed in 2025; DIG Mohammed Adamu Dankwara (Finance), appointed in 2025; DIG Funsho Adegboye, appointed in January 2026, and DIG Fayoade Adegoke, appointed in February 2026.
