By Raphael Innocent –
Fresh details have emerged on the circumstances that led to the removal of former Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, from office following his meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday.
Sources familiar with developments within the Nigeria Police Force told Western Post that a combination of administrative and policy issues contributed to his exit. He was subsequently asked to step down, bringing an early end to his tenure.
Among the factors cited were alleged arbitrary postings of senior officers, a move said to have generated discontent within the ranks. The redeployments reportedly affected several top officers, including Tunji Disu, who has now been named as his successor.
Insiders also pointed to the handling of a presidential directive ordering the withdrawal of police orderlies from VIPs. The implementation of the directive was described in some quarters as poorly managed, sparking confusion and criticism across commands.
Another issue said to have played a role was Egbetokun’s perceived stance on the creation of state police. Sources claimed that his position was viewed as being at variance with ongoing conversations around broader policing reforms.
Egbetokun was appointed the 22nd indigenous Inspector-General of Police on 19 June 2023, with the Police Council confirming his appointment on 31 October 2023. Although he was due for retirement in September 2024 upon attaining the mandatory age of 60, an amendment to the Police Act allowed him to serve a full four-year term expected to end on 31 October 2027, unless removed by the president.
His resignation, observers have said, marks a premature conclusion to a tenure initially regarded as central to the administration’s efforts to strengthen policing and advance law enforcement reforms nationwide.
Disu, who until now served as Assistant Inspector-General in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Annex in Lagos, is widely recognised for his expertise in intelligence and criminal investigations. While the Presidency has yet to release an official statement detailing the specific reasons for the leadership change or the timeline for Disu’s formal assumption of office, stakeholders are closely watching how the transition will shape ongoing reforms within the Nigeria Police Force.
