The Presidency has confirmed the resignation of Kayode Egbetokun as the Inspector-General of Police.
According to the Presidency, the police chief resigned his position due to family issues that require his attention.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga in a statement to the PUNCH, said, “The IGP resigned in a letter today, citing family issues which require his undivided attention.”
However, multiple Presidency sources revealed that Egbetokun was asked to step down during a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Monday evening.
“It was in that meeting he was asked to go,” a highly placed official in the Presidency stated on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
PUNCH further observed the IGP’s official vehicle, a Toyota Land Cruiser with number plate NPF-01, parking at the forecourt of the Presidential Villa around 6:40 pm on Monday
Egbetokun, dressed in his black uniform without his cap, was spotted coming down from the vehicle and turned back to ask for his notepad from an aide who briskly reached into the vehicle and handed it to him.
The IGP arrived at the same time governors were arriving for an interfaith breaking of fast with the President, raising initial uncertainty about the purpose of his visit.
However, another source at the Villa confirmed that Egbetokun was specifically summoned that evening by the President.
“He was called in. It wasn’t a routine visit,” the source stated.
Security officials further told the publication that the IGP returned to the State House at about 8:00 pm as his vehicle was subjected to a search by DSS operatives at the Villa.
Tinubu appointed Egbetokun as the IGP on June 19, 2023 and has since faced mounting criticism over the nation’s deteriorating security situation, particularly the wave of kidnappings, banditry, and terrorist attacks across multiple states.
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