Egbetokun's Last-minute Transfer Of Loyalists To Protect Them Before Handover

 Leaked Wireless Messages Reveal Former IGP Egbetokun's Last-Minute Transfer Of Loyalists To Protect Them Before Handover To Disu

Official police wireless communications exclusively obtained by SaharaReporters show that former Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun personally ordered a series of rapid last-minute mobilisations, transfers, postings and redeployments of officers loyal to him across Nigeria, affecting multiple commands, units and state formations.

SaharaReporters learnt that Egbetokun redeployed several of his loyalists within the Nigeria Police Force to other commands and formations, moving many of them out of Force Headquarters ahead of his handover to his successor, Acting Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, on Wednesday.

Some of his loyalists serving in state commands and specialised units were also affected by the redeployments.

On Tuesday, SaharaReporters reported that Egbetokun had been removed from his position as Inspector-General of Police.

SaharaReporters further confirmed that President Bola Tinubu ordered Egbetokun’s removal but allowed him the option of submitting a resignation letter, which was subsequently accepted.

Explaining the rationale behind the last-minute redeployments, a senior police source said, “The normal routine is that a new IGP may either redeploy them or decide to work with them. Some of them are being moved out of Abuja because of fears of possible witch-hunt.”

“It is also because many of them are not entitled to the positions or ranks they currently occupy in the Force,” the source added.

The classified wireless messages, marked “MOST/IMMEDIATE,” were transmitted from the Office of the Force Secretary at Force Headquarters in Abuja and repeatedly referenced directives issued directly by the Inspector-General.

The orders covered officers serving at the IGP Secretariat, Mobile Police units, Border Patrol, Force Intelligence Department, Police Special Fraud Unit, and various zonal, state and tactical formations nationwide.

Direct Mobilisations From IGP Secretariat To Lagos

Several of the wireless messages show that officers attached to the Inspector-General’s Secretariat in Abuja were mobilised and redeployed to Lagos.

One such signal, dated February 23, 2026, ordered the mobilisation of ASP Bakare Saheed from the IGP Secretariat in Abuja to Mobile Police Squadron 20 in Lagos. The message instructed authorities to “warn and release the officer to proceed accordingly” and update official records.

Another message issued the same day directed the mobilisation of ASP Omolola Mogaji from the IGP Secretariat to PROTECT Base 2 in Lagos. The PROTECT unit is a designated police formation referenced in the wireless communications.

Further signals also showed redeployments involving officers stationed at the IGP Secretariat in Abuja, including CSP Sheriff Atanda-Lawal, who was transferred to a procurement and coordination assignment in Abuja, and ASP Hauwa Tanko, who was transferred from the same Secretariat to another federal assignment in Abuja.

These transfers indicate that officers serving directly under the office of the Inspector-General were reassigned to other formations and duties.

Redeployment and posting of senior officers to Mobile Police formations.

Wireless messages also showed that senior officers were posted to Mobile Police formations across the country.

One signal dated February 23, 2026, ordered the posting of ACP Idris Abdullahi Abubakar to Mobile Police Squadron 9 in Kano. The same order directed the posting of ACP Adebowale Ganiyu to Mobile Police Squadron 20 in Ikeja, Lagos.

Another wireless message ordered the movement of CSP Solomon TerNenge Yough from the Force Criminal Investigation Department in Abuja to Mobile Police Squadron 17 in Akure.

In the same signal, CSP Sadiku Afolabi was ordered redeployed from Mobile Police Squadron 17 in Akure to Lagos.

The messages directed commands to release the officers immediately and update official personnel records accordingly.

Multiple Interstate Transfers Affecting Officers Nationwide

Wireless communications further revealed a broad set of transfers involving officers moving between states, zonal commands and police formations.

One signal ordered the transfer of CSP Okafor Ignatus from Zone 13 Ukpo to Anambra State. Another ordered SP Azeez Tafeek transferred from Oyo State to Lagos State. DSP Abdulmumin Abubakar was transferred from Bauchi State to Kaduna State.