Why Egbetokun Resigned as IGP: Presidency Reveals

Why Egbetokun resigned as IGP has sparked nationwide debate after a key Villa meeting. The Presidency cites family reasons amid growing security concerns. Read full story.

The Presidency has confirmed the resignation of Kayode Egbetokun as Inspector-General of Police, stating that the former police boss stepped down due to family issues requiring his “undivided attention.”

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this while responding to media inquiries on Monday night.

“The IGP resigned in a letter today, citing family issues which require his undivided attention,” Onanuga said.

However, multiple Presidency sources revealed that the development followed a crucial meeting between Egbetokun and President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, raising fresh questions about the circumstances surrounding the resignation.

According to highly placed sources within the Presidency, Egbetokun was summoned to the State House on Monday evening, where he met with President Tinubu.

“It was in that meeting he was asked to go,” one official said on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.

Observers at the Presidential Villa reported that the IGP’s official vehicle, a Toyota Land Cruiser with number plate NPF-01, arrived at about 6:40 pm. Dressed in his black police uniform, Egbetokun was seen retrieving his notepad from an aide before proceeding into the complex.

His arrival coincided with governors attending an interfaith breaking of fast (Iftar) with the President, initially creating uncertainty about the purpose of his visit. However, insiders confirmed he had been specifically invited.

Security sources also disclosed that Egbetokun returned to the Villa around 8:00 pm, where his vehicle was subjected to routine checks by DSS operatives.

Egbetokun’s exit comes amid heightened national concern over worsening insecurity across Nigeria. Since his appointment on June 19, 2023, the country has witnessed escalating incidents of kidnappings, banditry, and terrorist attacks.

Among the most disturbing cases were the abduction of nearly 300 schoolchildren from St. Mary’s Boarding School in Niger State in November 2025, deadly attacks in Kwara communities in February 2026, and persistent kidnappings along major highways.

Public criticism had intensified in recent months, with calls for urgent security reforms and more decisive action from law enforcement leadership.

During Monday’s Iftar with governors, President Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to establishing state police, declaring:

“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.”

Political observers believe the President’s renewed emphasis on security reform may signal a broader restructuring within the nation’s security architecture.

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 expired in September 2023 after an extension granted by former President Muhammadu Buhari.

His appointment in 2023 was widely seen as strategic, given his experience in criminal investigations and intelligence coordination.

With his resignation now confirmed, attention turns to who will take over the helm of the Nigeria Police Force at a time when security challenges remain a top national priority.

For many Nigerians, the central question remains: Was this purely a personal decision — or part of a broader recalibration of Nigeria’s security leadership?