The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, resigned on Tuesday, paving the way for Tunji Disu, Assistant Inspector-General of Police, to take over as acting head of the Nigeria Police Force ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Disu, promoted to AIG in March 2025, is expected to succeed Egbetokun, who was appointed by President Bola Tinubu on June 19, 2023. Egbetokun’s extended tenure had sparked controversy after he reached the mandatory retirement age of 60 on Sept. 4, 2024, but remained in office following amendments to the Police Act.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, confirmed Egbetokun submitted his resignation citing family reasons requiring his “undivided attention.” Presidency sources said the IG was asked to step down during a meeting with Tinubu at the Presidential Villa on Monday evening.
President Tinubu accepted the resignation and appointed Disu as acting IG immediately. A statement from the State House said the President is confident Disu’s experience and leadership will ensure “steady and focused direction” for the police during a critical security period. The Nigeria Police Council will formally consider Disu’s appointment as substantive IG, after which the Senate will confirm him.
Before his new role, Disu served as AIG in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department Annex in Lagos, and previously led the Special Protection Unit at Force Headquarters, Abuja. He also served as Commissioner of Police in the Federal Capital Territory and Rivers State, and commanded the Rapid Response Squad in Lagos from 2015 to 2021.
The appointment may trigger the resignation of 15 to 20 senior officers who are Disu’s seniors, according to a source in the Police Service Commission. Some Commissioners of Police and junior officers could benefit from promotions resulting from the reshuffle.
Retired police officers expressed support for Disu’s appointment, emphasizing adherence to force tradition. Retired AIG Ali Amodu said the change aligns with police norms, noting that senior Deputy Inspectors-General are traditionally expected to step aside when a junior assumes the IG position.
“Discipline in the force demands that the DIGs leave and allow the new IG to constitute his management team,” said retired AIG Lawrence Alobi, praising Disu as a seasoned officer with strong operational and intellectual capacity.
Retired officers also described the leadership change as an opportunity to inject fresh ideas into the force amid Nigeria’s ongoing security challenges. Wilson Inalegwu, a retired AIG, compared it to sports, saying, “Even in football, sometimes you bring fresh legs to improve performance. That is what has happened here.”
Disu’s appointment comes as the police prepare to manage security for the 2027 general elections, with expectations that he will reorganize senior management and strengthen operational effectiveness.
