Kayode Egbetokun has resigned from his position as the Inspector General of Police (IGP).

It was gathered that Egbetokun resigned from the position on Tuesday.

Although the police authorities have yet to comment on the matter or issue an official statement about his resignation, the move came amid reports suggesting that Egbetokun has left the position.

It is unclear who the next IGP would be.

President Bola Tinubu appointed Egbetokun as the 22nd Inspector-General of Police on June 19, 2023.

Vice President Kashim Shettima decorates Egbetokun in Abuja on Tuesday, June 20, 2023. Photo: Facebook/Dada Olusegun

The Nigeria Police Council confirmed his substantive appointment on October 31 of the same year.

Upon his appointment, Egbetokun promised to “chase away” criminals in Nigeria.

“I will tell you that right now, I feel like a Tiger inside of me, ready to chase away all the criminals in Nigeria. And some other time, I feel like a lion in me, ready to devour all the internal enemies of Nigeria,” he said.

He replaced Usman Baba, who was appointed as the Inspector General of Police by ex-President Muhammadu Buhari in 2021.

Born on 4th September, 1964 from the Egbado South Local Government Area of Ogun State, Egbetokun enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet ASP (Course 16) on March 3, 1990.

The latter part of Egbetokun’s tenure was marked by controversy over his extended stay in office, which drew public criticism.

Under Section 18(8) of the Police Act 2020, Egbetokun, who was born on September 4, 1964, was expected to retire in September 2024 upon attaining the age of 60.

But his tenure extended beyond the mandatory retirement limits of 60 years of age or 35 years of service, prompting sustained criticism from civil society groups, among others.

Critics argued that the extension breached established police service regulations and weakened institutional discipline.

However, the police maintained at the time that the development did not amount to an extension but was a confirmation that he would complete the four-year tenure stated in his original letter of appointment.

In July 2024, the National Assembly passed the Police Act (Amendment) Bill to allow a person appointed as Inspector-General of Police to remain in office until the end of the term stipulated in the letter of appointment.

President Tinubu had forwarded the bill to the House of Representatives and the Senate to amend the tenure of the IGP. Lawmakers in both chambers passed the bill at separate sittings.