Why Tinubu swapped Egbetokun for Disu as Police IG

President Bola Tinubu, has appointed Tunji- Disu, as the acting Inspector-General of Police, following his acceptance of Kayode Egbetokun’s resignation on Monday, in a letter citing pressing family considerations.

Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, said Tinubu received Egbetokun’s resignation and expressed his profound appreciation for Egbetokun’s decades of distinguished service to the Nigeria Police Force and the nation.

According to Onanuga, “The President acknowledged his dedication, professionalism, and steadfast commitment to strengthening internal security architecture during his tenure.”

Read also: Tinubu removes Egbetokun as IGP, Disu named successor

While the official narrative frames the exit as a voluntary resignation, the subtext suggests a rift over policy execution and a failure to curb the rising wave of insecurity in key northern corridors.

Sources within the Presidential Villa told BusinessDay that Egbetokun attended a breakfast meeting on Monday night where he reportedly “ruffled powerful feathers.” By Tuesday morning, the mandate for a leadership change was absolute.

The most significant point of friction appears to be the President’s aggressive push for State Police. Tinubu has staked considerable political capital on decentralising the police force, viewing it as the only viable solution to Nigeria’s localised security threats.

While the President had summoned National Economic Council (NEC) meetings to fast-track the legal and operational framework for State Police, Egbetokun was reportedly perceived as “unenthusiastic” or “slow” in aligning the Force with this new vision.

The security situation in Taraba State likely acted as the final catalyst for the swap. In February 2026 alone, at least 25 lives were lost to banditry in the state’s farming communities, a reality that led to a tense showdown at the Villa last Wednesday.

Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba arrived at the State House to brief the President on the carnage in Takum and Donga, BusinessDay exclusively reported last week. Egbetokun arrived late, joining the meeting 15 minutes after.

Details of their discussion were not available at the time of filing this report, but BusinessDay checks show that they may not be unconnected to the wave of banditry ravaging innocent citizens in the state.

Taraba State, often known as “Nature’s Gift to the Nation,” has experienced a series of attacks, especially amongst the farming communities of Takum and Donga local government areas, in the state.

Only recently, the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Northern Christians Religious Leaders Assembly, NOCREL, and the United Methodist Church of Nigeria, UMCN, sent a strongly worded save our soul message, asking the state government to beef up security in the area.

They described the frequency of the attacks as alarming, even as they alleged that thousands of citizens have been forced to abandon their farmlands in search of safety.

Taraba is located in the southern part of the North-Eastern region of Nigeria, with a long stretch of it bordering the Republic of Cameroon.

Read also: Tinubu meets Labour, Progressive Governors

The Gashaka- Gumti national park, one of the biggest national parks in West Africa, is also located in the state.

Many of the bandits operating in Nigeria often take advantage of several ungoverned spaces to hide, from where they carry out their attacks.

The President had on Monday night re- emphasized his desire to establish State Police, as part of measures to strengthen security, across the country.

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