President orders Egbetokun to resign after Villa meeting as former FCID boss Tunji Disu steps in as Nigeria’s 23rd police chief.

President Bola Tinubu has removed Kayode Egbetokun as Inspector-General of Police (IGP), directing him to tender his resignation following a meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday.

Egbetokun, the 22nd IGP, has been replaced by Tunji Disu, an Assistant Inspector-General of Police and former head of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex in Alagbon, Lagos. Multiple sources within the Presidency and the Police Service Commission confirmed the development on Tuesday, with an official government announcement expected shortly.

Egbetokun was appointed acting IGP on June 19, 2023, shortly after President Tinubu assumed office, and was later confirmed as substantive IGP by the Nigeria Police Council on October 31, 2023. Appointed at the age of 58, he was scheduled to retire on September 4, 2024, upon attaining the mandatory retirement age of 60.

However, his tenure became controversial after President Tinubu approved an extension beyond the statutory retirement age— a decision that drew public debate and legal scrutiny.

While the Presidency has not given formal reasons for Egbetokun’s removal, the directive reportedly followed internal security assessments and performance reviews. Sources familiar with the process said arrangements were already underway to ensure a smooth transition at the top of the Nigeria Police Force.

Tunji Disu now becomes the 23rd Inspector-General of Police and is expected to assume office immediately. His appointment also preserves regional balance in the police leadership, as the President, the outgoing IGP, and the incoming IGP are all from the Yoruba ethnic group in southwestern Nigeria.

The change signals a new phase for the Nigeria Police Force amid ongoing concerns over internal security, public confidence, and institutional reforms.