Tinubu sacks IGP Egbetokun in reported security shake-up, with AIG Tunji Disu expected to take over pending formal announcement
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reportedly removed Kayode Egbetokun as Inspector-General of Police in what sources describe as a decisive restructuring of Nigeria’s security leadership in Abuja on Monday, February 23, 2026.
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According to Premium Times, Kayode Egbetokun was asked to step down during a meeting with the President at the Presidential Villa.
Sources within the Presidency and the Nigeria Police Force disclosed that Assistant Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu is expected to replace the outgoing police chief. Preparations for a formal handover ceremony are said to be underway.
Although there has been no official confirmation as of press time, insiders indicated that arrangements for the transition have reached an advanced stage.
Kayode Egbetokun was appointed as the 22nd Inspector-General of Police by Bola Ahmed Tinubu on June 19, 2023. The Nigeria Police Council later confirmed the appointment on October 31, 2023.
The reported decision that Tinubu sacks IGP Egbetokun is expected to trigger significant changes within the command structure of the Nigeria Police Force. Senior officers are likely to be affected as the new leadership settles in.
Security analysts say such high-level changes often signal a strategic recalibration, especially as the administration faces mounting pressure to strengthen internal security and restore public confidence.
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An official statement from the Presidency is still awaited.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
