Kayode Egbetokun has resigned from his position as Inspector-General of Police following a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday. His resignation was formally submitted the same day.
The Presidency confirmed that the former police chief cited personal and family matters as the reason for leaving office. According to the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Egbetokun communicated his decision in a letter, stating that the issues required his full concentration.
Despite the official explanation, insiders within the Villa disclosed that the police boss was asked to relinquish his position during a private session with the President that evening.
Egbetokun arrived at the State House at about 6:40 pm in his official vehicle, a Toyota Land Cruiser with the plate number NPF-01. Dressed in his dark police uniform and without his cap, he briefly interacted with an aide before proceeding into the building.
Governors were also arriving around the same time for an interfaith Iftar hosted by the President, which initially made the purpose of the IGP’s visit unclear. However, sources later clarified that he had been specifically invited for the meeting.
Security operatives reportedly carried out routine checks on his vehicle within the Villa premises later that evening.
Egbetokun assumed office as Inspector-General of Police on June 19, 2023. Before that appointment, he served as Deputy Inspector-General in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department.
He succeeded Usman Alkali Baba, whose tenure ended in September 2023 after an extension.
His time in office was marked by increasing public concern over security challenges across the country. Reports of kidnappings, banditry, and violent attacks in different regions continued to spark national debate.
Among the incidents that heightened public anxiety were the abduction of hundreds of schoolchildren in Niger State in late 2025, deadly attacks in parts of Kwara State in early 2026, and ongoing kidnappings along major roads.
During Monday’s meeting with governors, President Tinubu emphasized the importance of security, describing it as the backbone of national growth and stability. He also reiterated plans to establish state police as part of efforts to address insecurity.
Egbetokun’s departure signals a significant shift in the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force at a time when the country faces mounting pressure to improve safety and restore public confidence.