Tunde Disu Tipped As New Police Chief As Egbetokun Steps Down
•By OYENIYI AWOJOODU
IBADAN — A major leadership change appears to be unfolding at the apex of Nigeria’s policing structure, with strong indications that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has stepped down from office.
Presidency sources revealed that Egbetokun’s exit followed a direct request from President Bola Tinubu during a private meeting held on Monday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The development marks a significant shift, coming months after official assurances that his tenure remained secure.
Multiple sources within both the Presidency and the Nigeria Police Force confirmed that preparations for a formal handover are already underway.
Emerging as the likely successor is Tunji Disu, currently serving as an Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG).
Though an official announcement is still pending, insiders suggest that arrangements for the transfer of authority have reached an advanced stage.
Egbetokun, who was appointed as the 22nd Inspector-General of Police on June 19, 2023, had his position reinforced by the Nigeria Police Council shortly after assuming office.
Despite attaining the statutory retirement age of 60 in September 2024, legislative amendments to the Police Act allowed him to remain in office to complete a fixed four-year term.
The amendment effectively extended his tenure to October 2027.
The Presidency had repeatedly defended the extension, maintaining that his continued stay in office was consistent with the provisions of the amended Police Act, even amid growing public debate.
However, Monday’s development signals a reversal of that position, bringing what was expected to be a prolonged tenure to an earlier-than-anticipated conclusion.
Egbetokun’s leadership was not without controversy. His time in office drew criticism from civil society groups over allegations of human rights violations, which placed his administration under sustained public scrutiny.
As of press time, there has been no official statement from the Presidency confirming the development.
Efforts to reach the presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, were unsuccessful, as calls placed to his mobile phone were not answered.
Similarly, attempts to contact the Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, did not yield a response. Calls were neither picked nor returned, and a WhatsApp message sent to him indicated he was unavailable at the time.