The Federal Government has confirmed the resignation of Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun and appointed Olatunji Ridwan Disu as the Acting Inspector-General of Police.

The Presidential Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this to reporters on Tuesday, stating that Egbetokun submitted his resignation letter and that President Bola Tinubu accepted it without hesitation.

Egbetokun, who was appointed by President Tinubu in June 2023 as Nigeria’s 22nd Inspector-General of Police, had earlier survived a potential retirement. He was due to retire in September 2024 upon attaining the age of 60. However, the National Assembly amended the Police Act, allowing him to complete a full four-year term in office.

The amendment generated mixed reactions nationwide, as some lawyers and civil society organisations questioned whether it was a proper exercise of legislative authority or a move aimed at retaining a loyalist in office.

President Tinubu subsequently named Disu, an Assistant Inspector-General of Police and head of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Alagbon, Lagos, as Acting IGP with immediate effect, adding that the Nigeria Police Council would be convened to consider his substantive appointment in line with due process.

Disu is a seasoned officer who has served as Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, head of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), and Commander of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in Lagos. His leadership roles earned him several commendations, including Best Commissioner of Police of the Year at the 2024 IGP Recognition Awards and Crime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria (CRAN) Man of the Year.

The FG reassured Nigerians that security operations across the country would continue without disruption despite the change in leadership. According to Onanuga, the President remains resolute in combating insecurity and strengthening all security agencies in the country.