Nigeria has had 22 Inspectors-General of Police (IGPs) since independence, with Kayode Egbetokun serving as the most recent before reports of his impending resignation.
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Egbetokun was appointed acting IGP on June 19, 2023, by President Bola Tinubu and later confirmed by the Senate, succeeding Usman Alkali Baba as the 22nd police chief.
Multiple media outlets reported on February 24, 2026, that President Tinubu has directed Egbetokun to resign after a closed-door meeting at the Presidential Villa.
Tunji Disu, Assistant Inspector-General of Police, has taken over, though the Presidency and Nigeria Police Force have yet to confirm the development.
Egbetokun was recently blacklisted by the International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria for allegedly ignoring calls to stop arbitrary arrests of journalists.
Here is the full list of Nigeria’s IGPs since independence and the states/regions they hail from:
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1964–1999:
- Louis Edet (1964–1966), Calabar, Cross River (South-South)
- Kam Salem (1966–1975), Dikwa, Borno (North-East)
- Muhammadu Dikko Yusufu (1975–1979), Katsina, Katsina (North-West)
- Adamu Suleiman (1979–1981), Yola, Adamawa (North-East)
- Sunday Adewusi (1981–1983), Oyo, Oyo (South-West)
- Etim Inyang (1985–1986), Akwa Ibom (South-South)
- Muhammadu Gambo-Jimeta (1986–1990), Yola, Adamawa (North-East)
- Aliyu Atta (1990–1993), Kogi, Kogi (North-Central)
- Ibrahim Coomassie (1993–1999), Katsina, Katsina (North-West)
2000–2010:
10. Musiliu Smith (1999–2002), Lagos (South-West)
11. Mustafa Adebayo Balogun (2002–2005), Osun (South-West)
12. Sunday Ehindero (2005–2007), Ondo (South-West)
13. Mike Mbama Okiro (2007–2009), Imo (South-East)
14. Ogbonna Okechukwu Onovo (2009–2010), Enugu (South-East)
2010–Present:
15. Hafiz Ringim (2010–2012), Jigawa (North-West)
16. Mohammed Dikko Abubarkar (2012–2014), Sokoto (North-West)
17. Suleiman Abba (2014–2015), Jigawa (North-West)
18. Solomon E. Arase (2015–2016), Edo (South-South)
19. Ibrahim Kpotun Idris (2016–2019), Niger (North-Central)
20. Mohammed Abubakar Adamu (2019–2021), Nasarawa (North-Central)
21. Usman Alkali Baba (2021–2023), Geidam, Yobe (North-East)
22. Kayode Egbetokun (2023–2026), Ogun (South-West)
23. Olatunji Disu ( 2026- Till Date), Lagos (South West)
Nigeria’s IGPs have played pivotal roles in shaping the nation’s policing and security landscape, often reflecting the country’s regional diversity.
