By ABIRHIRE THOMAS…reporting from Abuja
The Acting Inspector–General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has Wednesday officially assumed office.
Egbetokun was taking over the Force headquarters as the 22nd indigenous Inspector-General of Police of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, having officially been handed over to, by the former IGP, Usman Alkali Baba at 12pm in Abuja.
The DEFENDER recalls that Egbetokun was, on Tuesday June 20, 2023, decorated with his new rank by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu had earlier approved the retirement of IGP Usman Alkali Baba and his replacement with Egbetokun, in the acting capacity, while also retiring all the service chiefs, Advisers and Comptroller-General of Customs from service as well as replacing them with new appointees.
Kayode Egbetokun’s appointment as Nigeria’s topmost police officer was made known in a statement by the Director of Information, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Willie Bassey.
Like the service chiefs and others, the Acting Inspector General of Police’s appointment was with immediate effect.
In 1999, Egbetokun was appointed Chief Security Officer (CSO) Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Lagos State.
He served as the Commander of Lagos State Government’s special security outfit, the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) after which he was moved to become the Squadron Commander, Mopol 5, Benin City and then Officer-in-Charge, Anti-Fraud Unit, FCT Command, Abuja and later, as Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), Administration, Lagos State Command Headquarters, Ikeja.
Egbetokun became the Area Commander, Osogbo in Osun State Command and Area Commander, Gusau, Zamfara State Command, among others.
He had risen through the cadres to becoming the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Assistant Inspector General of Police until, after the last general elections, he found his way meritoriously to the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) supervising and representing the South West geopolitical zone on the Police Management Board in Abuja.
Egbetokun graduated from the University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics in June 1987; and lectured Mathematics briefly at Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, before his enlistment into the Police Force.
He also holds MSc in Engineering Analysis from UNILAG, Postgraduate Diploma in Petroleum Economics from Delta State University, Abraka and MBA from Lagos State University, Ojo.
