Eben Enasco Reporting.
Inspector-General of Police IGP, Kayode Egbetokun’s tenure has ended with a whimper, marked by an inability to tackle Nigeria’s rising security challenges.
Although the once-feared “Tiger” proved powerless against a tiny rodent that invaded his home, a fitting metaphor for his faltering leadership, he gave his best many seen wasnt good enough.
IGP Egbetokun had a reign of unmet expectations when security Challenges mounted and became overwhelming.
Despite Kidnappings, banditry, and insurgency persisted under Egbetokun’s watch, he was often concerned about redeploying huge numbers of operatives for electoral matters.
Many believed that the IGP’s response to crises was often slow and ineffective.
Inspector-General of Police IGP Kayode Egbetokun, known for his fearless demeanor, recently faced an unexpected test of courage.
The top cop, once a force to be reckoned with, found himself outmatched by an unlikely foe: a baby rodent that invaded his home and the country.
Evidence are the continuous attacks on journalists, kidnappings and huge demands of ransom by unknown gunmen, and road block exploits despite a series of directives from the former police gaffer.
The Nigeria Police Force, NPF, was accused of repeatedly clamping down on press freedom during former IGP Kayode Egbetokun’s tenure.
Journalists and media organizations documented numerous cases of arrests, assaults, and intimidation, often citing cybercrime laws.
Notable Cases include Sodeeq Atanda, a reporter with Foundation for Investigative Journalism FIJ, who was arrested twice, with his family used as bait.
Daniel Ojukwu, also of FIJ, was abducted and detained for 5 days in 2024.
Fisayo Soyombo, FIJ’s founder, was detained for 8 hours and required to report bi-weekly.
Madu Onuorah was abducted from his home, and others were detained or assaulted.
The International Press Institute included Egbetokun in its Book of Infamy in December 2025.
The NPF’s actions sparked widespread criticism, with rights groups demanding accountability.
The climax of his tiger based operations was the redeployment of thousands of security operatives as many believed his hatchet jobs for politicians during elections was obvious.
On September 12, 2024, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun deployed 35,000 personnel of the Nigeria Police Force to Edo for the 21 September governorship election.
Egbetokun also said that 8,000 personnel from other security agencies had also been deployed
The police chief warned that no private or state-owned security apparatus would be allowed to operate during and after the election when he illegally suspended the Edo state security network who were constitutionally created by the law.
Today, Kayode Egbetokun has resigned as Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police, citing family reasons.
His over 30-month tenure was marked by debates over tenure extension, with the Presidency confirming his resignation was voluntary.
Egbetokun’s replacement, Tunji Disu, was announced as Acting IGP.
Disu’s appointment has sparked concerns over potential instability.
A civil society group, Visionary Leaders Consensus, warns Disu’s short tenure expected 2 months could undermine the police force.
The President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu praised Disu’s leadership capacity, citing security challenges as the Senate is expected to review his appointment soon.
Even the bravest leaders face moments of weakness, but with Egbetokun’s boldness walled when confronted with the tiny intruder, the curtain falls on his tenure, and Nigerians are wondering: Will the next IGP fare better?
The bar is low and the IGP’s vulnerability humanizes him, revealing a relatable side.
We continue to hope that the new top cop will not recount a poignant tale of a night when his resolve would have been tested if he sleeps in his office as similar rodents should not overran his home, and citizens, as a stark reminder of the relentless pursuit of justice.