IGP Kayode Egbetokun's Tenure Reportedly Concludes After Presidential Directive
Following approximately three years in office, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun's leadership appears to be concluding unexpectedly. Multiple media sources reported on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, that President Bola Tinubu has instructed Egbetokun to resign following a confidential meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
According to information from presidential sources cited by Premium Times, Assistant Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu has been identified as the probable successor to Egbetokun, with transition preparations already underway. However, official confirmation from presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga and police spokesman Benjamin Hundeyin remains pending at this time.
Historical Context of Egbetokun's Appointment
Kayode Egbetokun, originally from Ogun State in Nigeria's southwest region, was initially appointed as acting Inspector-General of Police on Monday, June 19, 2023, by President Bola Tinubu. His appointment was subsequently formally confirmed by the Nigerian Senate, making him the nation's 22nd police chief since independence.
Egbetokun assumed the position following the retirement of former Inspector-General of Police Usman Alkali Baba, who served from 2021 to 2023. Prior to this recent development, Egbetokun had faced criticism from media organizations, including being blacklisted by the International Press Institute Nigeria for allegedly disregarding calls to cease arbitrary arrests of journalists by police personnel.
Complete Historical Record of Nigeria's Inspectors-General of Police
Since Nigeria gained independence, the nation has witnessed twenty-two individuals serve as Inspector-General of Police, representing diverse geographical regions across the country. Below is the comprehensive chronological listing of all police chiefs from 1964 to the present day.
Nigeria's Inspectors-General of Police: 1964 to 1999
- IGP Louis Edet (1964-1966) - Calabar, Cross River State, South-South Region
- IGP Kam Salem (1966-1975) - Dikwa, Borno State, Northeast Region
- IGP Muhammadu Dikko Yusufu (1975-1979) - Katsina, Katsina State, Northwest Region
- IGP Adamu Suleiman (1979–1981) - Yola, Adamawa State, Northeast Region
- IGP Sunday Adewusi (1981–1983) - Oyo, Oyo State, Southwest Region
- IGP Etim Inyang (1985–1986) - Akwa Ibom State, South-South Region
- IGP Muhammadu Gambo-Jimeta (1986–1990) - Yola, Adamawa State, Northeast Region
- IGP Aliyu Atta (1990–1993) - Kogi, Kogi State, North-Central Region
- IGP Ibrahim Coomassie (1993–1999) - Katsina, Katsina State, Northwest Region
Nigeria's Inspectors-General of Police: 2000 to 2010
- IGP Musiliu Smith (1999–2002) - Lagos State, Southwest Region
- IGP Mustafa Adebayo Balogun (2002–2005) - Osun State, Southwest Region
- IGP Sunday Ehindero (2005–2007) - Ondo State, Southwest Region
- IGP Mike Mbama Okiro (2007–2009) - Imo State, Southeast Region
- IGP Ogbonna Okechukwu Onovo (2009-2010) - Enugu State, Southeast Region
Nigeria's Inspectors-General of Police: 2010 to Present
- IGP Hafiz Ringim (2010-2012) - Jigawa State, Northwest Region
- IGP Mohammed Dikko Abubakar (2012-2014) - Sokoto State, Northwest Region
- IGP Suleiman Abba (2014-2015) - Jigawa State, Northwest Region
- IGP Solomon E. Arase (2015-2016) - Edo State, South-South Region
- IGP Ibrahim Kpotun Idris (2016-2019) - Niger State, North-Central Region
- IGP Mohammed Abubakar Adamu (2019-2021) - Nasarawa State, North-Central Region
- IGP Usman Alkali Baba (2021-2023) - Geidam, Yobe State, Northeast Region
- Acting IGP Kayode Egbetokun (2023-2026) - Ogun State, Southwest Region
This comprehensive historical record demonstrates the geographical diversity of Nigeria's police leadership over six decades, with representation from all major regions of the country. The impending transition from Egbetokun to his potential successor marks another chapter in this ongoing historical narrative of Nigeria's law enforcement leadership.
