There was tension at the Force Headquarters in Abuja Tuesday evening following reports that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to resign from office.
A senior police source confirmed that Egbetokun was asked to step aside after a meeting with the President at the Presidential Villa.
The development reportedly threw the Force Headquarters into what observers described as “uneasy calm,” with senior officers seen in discussions over the sudden shake-up in the police high command.
President Tinubu named Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, the Acting Inspector-General of Police .
Disu, born April 13, 1966, is no stranger to top police operations. Until recently, he headed the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex in Alagbon, Lagos, where he resumed duty earlier this month. He had pledged to strengthen investigative capacity and enforce a zero-tolerance stance on corruption within the force.
A former Commissioner of Police in both the Federal Capital Territory and Rivers State, Disu is also a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. He previously led the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) and served as Principal Staff Officer to Egbetokun before his latest posting.
Egbetokun’s removal comes amid lingering debates over his tenure extension. In 2023, President Tinubu extended his stay in office following an amendment to the Police Service Act granting Inspectors-General a single four-year tenure. The decision had sparked protests from some quarters who questioned the legality and timing of the extension.
With his tenure originally expected to run until 2027, Tuesday’s development marks a dramatic turn in Nigeria’s policing leadership.
Attention is now focused on how the transition will shape security operations nationwide, especially at a time when the country continues to grapple with multiple internal security challenges.
