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EXCLUSIVE: IGP Egbetokun Ousts AIG Fayoade From Lagos Command To Block His Rise As Next Police Chief

The crisis inside the Nigeria Police Force has deepened after Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun abruptly removed AIG Adegoke Mustapha Fayoade from the influential Zone 2 Command (Lagos and Ogun) — a move sources say was designed to kill his chances of emerging as the next IGP.

Though the Force publicly claimed Fayoade’s redeployment was tied to “corruption allegations,” SaharaReporters learnt that the real reason was rooted in a succession battle and political power play.

Fayoade’s Rising Profile and Political Backing

Sources revealed that Bisi Akande, founding leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Osun governor, had quietly lobbied the Tinubu presidency to back Fayoade as Egbetokun’s successor.

Fayoade, who once served as Akande’s aide-de-camp, was seen as a serious contender for the top job — a perception that reportedly unsettled Egbetokun and his camp.

“The corruption excuse is just a smokescreen. The IGP and his allies see Fayoade as a threat because APC power brokers were working for his emergence as the next Inspector-General,” a top insider told SaharaReporters.

By redeploying him away from Lagos — Nigeria’s commercial capital and one of the most strategic police zones — the IGP is believed to be weakening his visibility and influence ahead of any succession talks.

Fayoade’s Career at a Glance

Born October 28, 1966, in Ila-Orangun, Osun State, Fayoade joined the force in 1992 as a Cadet ASP. His career spans postings in Taraba, Akwa Ibom, Abia, Ogun, and Lagos, where he served as:

DPO in multiple divisions.

Area Commander, Otta.

Commandant, Police Training College, Oyin-Akoko.

DCP, SCID Panti.

Commissioner of Police, Lagos Command.

CP (Armament), Force HQ, Abuja.

AIG, Zone 2 (Lagos and Ogun).

A Deeply Divided Force

Egbetokun himself is under fire. Despite reaching the mandatory retirement age, he has refused to step down, fueling anger within the force and civil society.

Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has repeatedly called for his resignation, branding him the “Illegal General of the Nigeria Police Force” for staying beyond March 3, 2025 — the date his peers retired.

The IGP also faces backlash over:

Controversial promotions of 37 senior officers, 30 of whom were reportedly Yoruba, sparking ethnic and institutional tensions.

Nepotism claims, with many promoted officers said to be his close associates.

Protests by retired police officers, who marched to Force HQ over poor pensions and welfare.

The Bigger Picture

Police insiders describe the Force as being in “open turmoil,” with succession politics, regional bias, and welfare neglect eroding morale.

Fayoade’s removal, seen as a calculated political strike, has further exposed the cracks within Nigeria’s security leadership — raising questions about whether competence, seniority, or political loyalty will determine the next Inspector-General.

By Haruna Yakubu Haruna