IGP Kayode Egbetokun Resigns, Tinubu Names Replacement

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has resigned from his position following instructions from President Bola Tinubu.

This decision was confirmed by senior government officials and stemmed from a private meeting held on Monday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja between the president and Egbetokun.

In light of this development, President Tinubu has nominated Tunji Disu, an Assistant Inspector General of Police, to succeed Egbetokun. Preparations for a formal handover ceremony at the Force Headquarters in Abuja are currently underway, with security officials working to finalize arrangements, although no official statement from the presidency has been released yet.

Egbetokun was appointed as the 22nd Inspector General of Police in June 2023, and the Nigeria Police Council ratified his appointment in October of the same year. At the time of his appointment, he was nearing the mandatory retirement age of 60, prompting discussions regarding the duration of his tenure.

To address this, the National Assembly amended the Police Act in 2024, allowing an Inspector General of Police to fulfill a full four-year term regardless of age or time already spent in service. Consequently, Egbetokun was anticipated to serve until October 2027. However, his time in office faced significant public scrutiny and accusations of human rights violations, particularly during protests and security operations in various states.

The presidency has not issued a formal statement confirming his resignation. Attempts to reach the presidential and police spokespersons were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

A source within the presidency said an official announcement would be made later on Tuesday.

More details are expected as events unfold.