President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday appointed Assistant Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu as the acting Inspector-General of Police following the resignation of Kayode Egbetokun.
Egbetokun, who cited pressing family considerations, had been serving a four-year term that began in June 2023, scheduled to end in June 2027 under the amended Police Act. The President acknowledged Egbetokun’s service and accepted his resignation, while Disu, until his new appointment, served as AIG in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department Annex, Alagbon, Lagos.
In Nigeria, it is customary for senior police officers to retire when a junior officer is promoted to IGP, reflecting the force’s respect for hierarchy and organizational stability, even though it is not legally mandatory. Several senior officers are likely to step down following Disu’s appointment to allow him to form his management team.
Among the affected Deputy Inspectors-General are:
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Frank Mba – Three-time National Spokesman for the Nigeria Police Force, decorated as AIG in March 2023, with prior service as Commissioner of Police and UN Mission member in Liberia.
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Mohammed Gumel – 4th DIG in charge of the Force Intelligence Department; former Commissioner of Police and recognized for community policing initiatives.
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Adebola Hamzat – DIG overseeing the Department of Logistics and Supply; previously AIG Zone 16 (Yenagoa), CP of Oyo State, and head of the Counter-Terrorism Unit.
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Yahaya Abubakar – DIG heading the Department of Finance and Administration, responsible for budgeting, HR, and overall financial management.
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Basil Idegwu – DIG in charge of Research and Planning; Ph.D. holder in Peace and Security Studies, responsible for strategic planning and policy development.
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Bzigu Kwazhi – DIG leading the Department of Operations; oversees operational activities, crime prevention, joint security operations, and crisis management.
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Idris Abubakar – Senior officer with a B.Sc. in Education, M.Sc., and Ph.D. in Psychology; originally from Garko LGA, Kano State.
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Adebowale Williams – DIG heading the Department of Information and Communication Technology; responsible for managing the police force’s digital infrastructure and modern policing systems.
The new leadership is expected to maintain discipline, reinforce administrative order, and introduce fresh ideas to strengthen the Nigeria Police Force. Retired police officers have expressed confidence in Disu’s ability to lead effectively, particularly given current national security challenges, while noting that the retirement of senior officers is a long-standing tradition designed to ensure smooth transitions and operational efficiency.
