Why Tinubu removed Egbetokun as Police IG, set to appoint Tunji Disu as replacement

By Johnson Arua

President Bola Tinubu has reportedly asked the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to step down from his position, in a move seen as a major shake-up of Nigeria’s security leadership ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Sources close to the presidency disclosed that Mr Egbetokun was directed to resign following a meeting with the president at the Presidential Villa on Monday evening.

The development is said to be part of efforts by the administration to reposition the nation’s security architecture.

According to the sources, the president has accepted the recommendation of Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, as Mr Egbetokun’s replacement. Mr Disu is expected to be formally announced and subsequently confirmed by the Nigerian Senate in the coming days.

Officials familiar with the matter said the decision was influenced by the president’s desire to chart a new security course as the country approaches the next general elections, now about a year away. An official announcement from the State House is anticipated soon.

It remains unclear whether Mr Egbetokun raised any objections to the decision. Efforts to obtain comments from the police authorities were unsuccessful as a spokesperson did not respond to inquiries as of Tuesday afternoon.

Mr Egbetokun’s tenure had attracted controversy, particularly over his continued stay in office beyond September 2024, when he reportedly reached the statutory retirement age.

The presidency has in recent times faced criticism from some quarters over the perceived lack of ethnic and religious balance in key appointments.

Mr Disu, a native of Lagos State born on April 13, 1966, is regarded within policing circles as an experienced and accomplished officer. Before his latest role, he served as Assistant Inspector-General in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex in Alagbon, Lagos.

He previously held positions as Commissioner of Police in the Federal Capital Territory in 2024 and Rivers State in 2023. He also served as Principal Staff Officer to Mr Egbetokun, headed the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in Abuja, and led the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in Lagos.

An alumnus of Lagos State University, Mr Disu holds a degree in English Education, a diploma in International Relations and Strategic Studies, and master’s degrees in Public Administration as well as Criminology, Security and Legal Psychology.

He joined the Nigeria Police Force as an Assistant Superintendent of Police in May 1992 after training at the Nigeria Police Academy in Wudil, Kano State.