The Presidency has confirmed that former Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, resigned from office, citing personal and family concerns that require his full attention.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this while responding to inquiries, stating that the former police chief submitted his resignation letter on Tuesday.
“The IGP resigned in a letter today, citing family issues which require his undivided attention,” Onanuga said.
However, multiple sources within the Presidential Villa revealed that Egbetokun was asked to step down during a private meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday evening in Abuja.
According to a senior official who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, the directive was given during the meeting.
“It was in that meeting he was asked to go,” the source disclosed.
Observers at the Presidential Villa reported that Egbetokun’s official vehicle, a Toyota Land Cruiser bearing the plate number NPF-01, arrived at the forecourt around 6:40 pm on Monday.
Dressed in his black police uniform, though without his cap, the IGP briefly stepped out and requested his notepad from an aide before proceeding inside.
His arrival coincided with that of several governors who were at the Villa for an interfaith breaking of fast (Iftar) with the
President, initially creating uncertainty about the purpose of his visit.
Another Villa source later confirmed that the former police chief had been specifically summoned and that the meeting was not routine.
“He was called in. It wasn’t a routine visit,” the source stated.
Security operatives were also said to have searched his vehicle when he returned to the State House around 8:00 pm.
Egbetokun, who was appointed Inspector-General on June 19, 2023, had come under increasing public scrutiny amid worsening security challenges in parts of the country, including kidnappings, banditry and terrorist attacks.
Recent incidents that drew national attention include the abduction of nearly 300 schoolchildren from a boarding school in Niger State in November 2025, deadly attacks on communities in Kwara State in February 2026, and persistent kidnappings along major highways.
During Monday’s Iftar with governors, President Tinubu reiterated his administration’s commitment to tackling insecurity, declaring that the establishment of state police would not be delayed.
“Security is the foundation of prosperity. Without it, farms cannot flourish, businesses cannot grow, and families cannot sleep in peace. We will establish state police to curb insecurity,” the President said.
Before becoming IGP, Egbetokun served as Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigations Department. He succeeded Usman Alkali Baba, whose tenure ended in September 2023.
With his resignation now confirmed, attention has shifted to the transition in leadership at the Nigeria Police Force as the administration moves to chart a new direction in addressing the country’s security challenges.
Advertisement
