Leaked official police wireless communications obtained exclusively by reporters show that former Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun personally ordered a flurry of rapid, last-minute mobilisations, transfers, postings, and redeployments of officers considered loyal to him.
The moves affected multiple commands, units, and state formations across Nigeria and were carried out in the days immediately before his handover to the new Acting Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, on Wednesday.
Many of the redeployed officers were moved out of Force Headquarters in Abuja, while others serving in state commands and specialised units were also reassigned.
A senior police source explained the rationale behind the transfers:
“The normal routine is that a new IGP may either redeploy them or decide to work with them. Some of them are being moved out of Abuja because of fears of possible witch-hunt. It is also because many of them are not entitled to the positions or ranks they currently occupy in the Force.”
The classified wireless messages, marked “MOST/IMMEDIATE,” were issued from the Office of the Force Secretary at Force Headquarters, Abuja, and explicitly referenced direct directives from the Inspector-General.
Key examples from the leaked signals (dated mostly February 23, 2026) include:
– Direct mobilisations from the IGP Secretariat in Abuja to Lagos:
– ASP Bakare Saheed → Mobile Police Squadron 20, Lagos
– ASP Omolola Mogaji → PROTECT Base 2, Lagos
– Redeployments of senior officers to Mobile Police formations nationwide:
– ACP Idris Abdullahi Abubakar → Mobile Police Squadron 9, Kano
– ACP Adebowale Ganiyu → Mobile Police Squadron 20, Ikeja, Lagos
– CSP Solomon TerNenge Yough → Mobile Police Squadron 17, Akure (from Force CID, Abuja)
– CSP Sadiku Afolabi → Lagos (from Mobile Police Squadron 17, Akure)
– Multiple interstate and inter-formations transfers:
– CSP Okafor Ignatus → Anambra State (from Zone 13 Ukpo)
– SP Azeez Tafeek → Lagos State (from Oyo State)
– DSP Abdulmumin Abubakar → Kaduna State (from Bauchi State)
– ASP Maidunoma Madu → Delta State (from Bayelsa State)
– ASP Nwedo Steven, ASP Kabiru Bashir, ASP Haliru Aliyu → Kaduna State (from Kebbi and Sokoto States)
– SP Benji Timothy Luka → Nasarawa State (from Adamawa State)
– SP Christopher Jide Fajuyigbe → Zone 2 Command, Lagos (from Ondo State)
– ASP Olayemi Omowunmi → PAP Western Command, Lagos (from Kwara State)
– ASP Adenuga Adefemi → Lagos State (from Zone 9 Umuahia)
– ASP Omole Felix → Edo State (from Anambra State)
– Internal redeployments within Lagos formations:
– ASP Idora Alex Ikum → Police Special Fraud Unit Annex, Lagos (from PROTECT Base 2, Lagos)
– DSP Mahmud Muib → Police Special Fraud Unit Annex, Lagos (from Police Cooperative, Lagos)
– Correction to a previous order:
CSP Emmanuel Kayode’s transfer was varied from Oyo State to Lagos State (previously ordered from Border Patrol, Idiroko, Ogun State).
All messages instructed receiving commands to immediately warn and release the affected officers, ensure compliance, and update personnel and establishment records accordingly.
The redeployments spanned key formations including:
– IGP Secretariat
– Mobile Police Squadrons
– Border Patrol
– Force Intelligence Department
– Police Special Fraud Unit
– Zonal, state, and tactical commands
The transfers affected personnel in Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Akure, Anambra, Oyo, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Delta, Sokoto, Kebbi, Adamawa, Nasarawa, Edo, and others.
Reports had earlier reported Egbetokun’s removal as Inspector-General of Police on Tuesday. It was confirmed that President Bola Tinubu ordered the removal but permitted Egbetokun to submit a resignation letter, which was accepted.
