By Abdullahi Lukman
Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has resigned from office midway into his extended tenure.
Reliable sources close to the seat of government claimed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu demanded his resignation at a meeting on Monday in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
NatureNews gathered that Mr. Tunji Disu, an Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) and currently in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Alagbon, Lagos, has been tipped to replace Egbetokun.
If appointed, Mr. Disu, who is highly respected for his impeccable record of service and unimpeachable professionalism, will become Nigeria’s 23rd indigenous Inspector General of Police.
Although government was yet to confirm the information, media news flash about his appointment has elicited jubilation among rank and file at the police headquarters in Abuja and other police formations.
Aged 59, Mr. Disu was until recently the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja and has held several sensitive positions in the police force..
While the nation anticipates official statement on the change of leadership, the police high command is believed to be making preparations for a formal handover ceremony from Mr Egbetokun to Mr Disu.
The former IGP Egbetokun was appointed by President Tinubu as the 22nd police boss on 19 June, 2023, and he was confirmed as substantive IGP by the Nigeria Police Council on 31 October same year.
Age is a factor in determining the continued stay in office of police officers in Nigeria.
Mr. Egbetokun was 58, when he was appointed as IGP and was due to retire on 4 September 2024, upon reaching the mandatory age of 60.
However, Nigeria’s parliament amended the police law, which allows the IGP to serve a four-year term in office, from date of appointment, unless removed by the President.
By virtue of the amended Police Act 2024, Mr. Egbetokun was expected to remain in office for a four-year tenure which would have lapsed on 31 October, 2027, regardless of his age or years of service.
Mr Egbetokun’s tenure as IGP was marked by a mixed perception, some pointing at the remarkable police infrastructure he undertook while others including the International Press Institute (IPI Nigeria) pointed at his human rights abuses.
The former IGP Egbetokun holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from the University of Lagos and a chain of academic degrees and fellowships.
The in-coming IGP, Olatunji Disu is a highly respected and decorated Nigerian police officer. Born on April 13, 1966, in Lagos Island, Lagos State, Disu has risen through the ranks to become one of the most impactful senior officers in the Nigeria Police Force.
He’s a strategist, reformer, and community-focused leader with over three decades of experience in policing. Disu has held key positions, including Commissioner of Police in Rivers State and Abuja, and Commander of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in Lagos State.
Disu is known for his community-centric policing approach, emphasizing engagement, education, and de-escalation. He’s also a recipient of several awards, including the Nigeria Police “Commissioner of Police of the Year” Award.