The [now former] Police Inspector General Kayode Egbetokun said during a security chiefs’ media briefing last year that rather than reporting on the alleged genocide of Christians in Nigeria, newspapers should be reporting on “genocide of policemen,” since policemen are being killed by criminals in many parts of the country on a daily basis.
On Tuesday evening, the Presidency announced that Egbetokun had resigned “on personal grounds.” Assistant Inspector General [AIG] Tunji Disu was appointed as Acting IG pending his expected confirmation by the Police Council and National Assembly. In a highly seniority conscious organization like the Police, a genocide of senior police careers is looming.
Nigeria Police currently has seven DIGs and 30 AIGs that head zones and critical departments. Disu became an AIG in March 2025. It is said that 28 DIGs and AIGs are his seniors and could all be retired shortly.
This kind of career massacre last occurred in 1990, when President Ibrahim Babangida promoted AIG Aliyu Attah to IG. It was reported at the time that Attah had 21 seniors in the police, all of whom were retired. Including, most ironically, AIG Caspir Akagbosu, Commissioner of Police in Bendel State who was shot and badly injured by notorious armed robber Lawrence Aninih’s gang.
While Akagbosu was recuperating abroad, his Compol mates were promoted to AIGs. When he returned, he filed a petition, and he was promoted to AIG with immediate effect. He petitioned again, asking for his seniority over Attah to be restored. This was granted. Soon afterwards, Attah was made IG, and Akagbosu had to retire along with 20 other officers who were senior to the new IG!
Any cop senior to Disu, please raise your hand.
