The Presidency has officially confirmed that Kayode Egbetokun has resigned as Inspector-General of Police (IGP), with the announcement made on Tuesday, February 24, 2026.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, stated in a release: “The IGP resigned in a letter today, citing family issues that require his undivided attention.” The statement presented the departure as voluntary and personal, without elaborating further on the circumstances.
However, multiple credible sources within the Presidency, speaking on condition of anonymity, disclosed that Egbetokun was in fact asked to step down during a private meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday evening, February 23, 2026.
“It was in that meeting he was asked to go,” one senior official told journalists. Another source confirmed that Egbetokun had been specifically summoned by the President and that the visit was not routine. His arrival at the Villa coincided with the arrival of several state governors for an interfaith breaking of fast with the President during Ramadan, which initially caused speculation about the purpose of his presence.
Security personnel at the Villa reported that Egbetokun’s vehicle underwent a routine but thorough search by Department of State Services (DSS) operatives upon his departure around 8:00 p.m., an indication—according to insiders—of the seriousness and finality of the discussion.
Egbetokun was appointed the 22nd Inspector-General of Police on June 19, 2023, shortly after President Tinubu assumed office. He succeeded Usman Alkali Baba, whose tenure had been extended by former President Muhammadu Buhari. At the time of his appointment, Egbetokun was already close to the mandatory retirement age of 60, prompting legal and political controversy over the possibility of serving a full four-year term.
The National Assembly responded in 2024 by amending the Police Act to allow an IGP to serve a fixed four-year tenure irrespective of age or prior service years. Under that amendment, Egbetokun had been expected to remain in office until October 2027.
His tenure, however, was marked by persistent public criticism over Nigeria’s worsening security landscape. Kidnappings for ransom surged in several states, banditry continued to ravage communities in the North-West and North-Central zones, and terrorist attacks by Boko Haram remnants and ISWAP affiliates persisted in the North-East. High-profile incidents—including mass abductions, attacks on villages, and perceived slow police response—fueled widespread dissatisfaction with the Nigeria Police Force’s performance.
Civil society groups, opposition politicians, and even some members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) repeatedly called for stronger leadership, better coordination among security agencies, improved welfare for officers, and more decisive action against criminal networks.
Egbetokun consistently defended the force, highlighting increased arrests, equipment acquisitions, expanded community policing efforts, and collaboration with other security outfits. Nonetheless, the cumulative weight of insecurity, public frustration, and internal pressures appears to have contributed to the decision for a leadership change.
The Presidency has nominated Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Tunji Disu as the new IGP. Disu, known for his background in intelligence and investigative operations—including leadership roles in the Intelligence Response Team (IRT)—is expected to assume office following formal ratification by the Nigeria Police Council.
Handover preparations are underway at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, with a ceremony likely to take place in the coming days once logistics and protocol arrangements are finalized.
As of Tuesday evening, the Nigeria Police Force Public Relations Department had not issued a detailed statement on the transition, and neither Egbetokun nor Disu had made public comments. The development represents the most significant change in Nigeria’s top police leadership since the beginning of the Tinubu administration and is widely interpreted as a response to sustained pressure for improved security outcomes.
Further announcements, including the exact date of the handover and any accompanying policy directions from the incoming IGP, are expected shortly.
