New details have emerged surrounding the resignation of former Kayode Egbetokun as Inspector-General of Police, with sources highlighting months of unpaid state command allocations, contentious promotions, and disputes over key postings as key factors.
Sources familiar with the matter told Vanguard that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu grew increasingly concerned over rising kidnappings, community attacks, and killings in states including Kaduna, Niger, Kwara, Zamfara, Kebbi, and Adamawa.
An internal review reportedly revealed that several state police commands had not received their monthly allocations for operational, administrative, and logistical purposes for six to seven months, significantly hampering officers’ ability to respond to security threats.
“There is no way non-remittance of monthly allocation will not affect the running of the Police commands,” a source said. The discovery reportedly unsettled the Presidency, which subsequently directed Egbetokun to proceed on retirement.
Tensions were further heightened by disputes involving Assistant Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu. Disu, tasked with overseeing the withdrawal of police personnel from VIPs in the Special Protection Unit (SPU), was replaced by a coursemate of the former IGP — a move perceived by some as dissent. Though the Presidency ordered Disu’s reinstatement, Egbetokun allegedly redeployed him to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) in Lagos, escalating friction.
Egbetokun’s tenure was also reportedly marred by allegations of abuse in special promotions, with some officers receiving accelerated promotions without meeting required qualifications, examinations, or years of service. “Within a few years, some officers got promoted three times without the necessary qualifications, while their peers remained at lower ranks,” a source said, noting that morale and merit-based progression were affected.
Amid the transition, sources indicate that several of the 39 senior officers — including Deputy Inspectors-General and Assistant Inspectors-General — are lobbying the Presidency, National Assembly, and Police Service Commission to retain their positions and continue serving under the new leadership.
Olatunji Disu, appointed acting IGP last week following Egbetokun’s resignation, joined the Nigeria Police Force in May 1992. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English Education from Lagos State University and master’s degrees in Public Administration as well as Criminology, Security, and Legal Psychology.
Disu was confirmed as the 23rd Indigenous IGP at the Police Council meeting on March 2, 2026, in accordance with the Police Act 2020. Egbetokun had been appointed the 22nd IGP on June 19, 2023, succeeding Alkali Baba2023 following an extension granted by former President Muhammadu Buhari.