The Nigeria Police Force has formally withdrawn former Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun from active service, marking the official end of his career in the force.
Egbetokun attended the ceremony held in Abuja on Thursday alongside his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Egbetokun.
Speaking during the event, the former police chief described his time leading the force as one of the greatest honours of his life. He said serving as the nation’s top police officer was a privilege and highlighted some of the developments achieved during his tenure.
According to him, the police under his leadership expanded their operational capabilities. He explained that the cybercrime unit of the force was strengthened while the investigative capacity of the police was also significantly improved.
Egbetokun stepped down from the position of Inspector-General of Police in February 2026 and was later succeeded by Olatunji Disu, who was appointed by Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The former police chief was originally appointed as IGP in 2023 by President Tinubu. At the time of his appointment, he pledged to aggressively tackle crime across the country.
“I will tell you that right now, I feel like a Tiger inside of me, ready to chase away all the criminals in Nigeria. And some other time, I feel like a lion in me, ready to devour all the internal enemies of Nigeria,” he had said shortly after assuming office.
Egbetokun succeeded Usman Baba, who had been appointed to the role in 2021 by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Born on September 4, 1964, Egbetokun hails from the Egbado South Local Government Area of Ogun State. He joined the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police on March 3, 1990.
The latter part of his tenure attracted controversy due to his continued stay in office beyond the statutory retirement limits. Under Section 18(8) of the Police Act 2020, Egbetokun was expected to retire in September 2024 after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 60.
However, he remained in office beyond that period, sparking criticism from civil society organisations and other observers who argued that the development undermined established police service regulations.
The police authorities at the time insisted that his continued stay was not an extension but rather a confirmation that he would complete the four-year tenure specified in his original appointment letter.
In July 2024, the National Assembly of Nigeria passed the Police Act Amendment Bill 2024 to allow anyone appointed as Inspector-General of Police to remain in office until the completion of the tenure stated in the appointment letter.
Resignation
In February 2026, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu accepted Egbetokun’s resignation after he submitted a letter citing “pressing family considerations” as the reason for stepping down.
Following his resignation, Tinubu approved the appointment of Assistant Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu to serve as Acting Inspector-General with immediate effect.
The president later formally swore in Disu as the new Inspector-General of Police on March 4 at the Council Chamber of the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja shortly before the commencement of the Federal Executive Council meeting.
What you should know
Kayode Egbetokun served as Nigeria’s police chief from 2023 until his resignation in February 2026.
His tenure saw reforms aimed at strengthening investigative operations and tackling cybercrime, but it was also marked by controversy surrounding his continued stay in office beyond the statutory retirement age.
The passage of an amendment to the Police Act allowed the Inspector-General to complete the tenure specified in the appointment letter, a move that generated debate among civil society groups and legal analysts.
