Abuja – The reasons why President Bola Tinubu removed former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, have been revealed. Sources from the nation’s law enforcement circles, alleged that his inability to stop the spate of kidnappings among other welfare issues of officers led to his downfall.

According to sources, President Bola Tinubu had grown increasingly frustrated with Egbetokun’s failure to address the rising wave of kidnappings, attacks on communities, and killings across the country, despite assurances that perpetrators would be brought to justice with the necessary operational resources.

“On several occasions, former IGP Egbetokun had reassured the President that perpetrators of dastardly criminal acts would be arrested provided certain operational requirements are in place.

The President will make funds available for those purposes yet a few days later more deadly attack or incident of kidnapping by terrorists will occur to the embarrassment of the President,” a source close to the matter said.

Investigations revealed that several State Police Commands went without monthly allocations for six months, crippling their ability to respond to security threats. “It’s impossible to run a command without funds,” a senior officer lamented.

Sources said when the President sought to understand why the State Commissioners of Police appeared impotent in the face of criminal attacks, it was discovered many of them were not being given monthly allocations. “The incidents in Kaduna, Niger, Kwara, Zamfara, Kebbi and Adamawa were not taken lightly by the President,” a source said.

The discovery of this anomaly, especially when it was confirmed that monies meant for allocation to State Commands were made available to the IGP, irked President Tinubu, hence his directive to the former IGP to resign.

Another incident that irked Mr President, according to a source, was the unwarranted removal of the then AIG Tunji Disu from his post as the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge Special Protection Force/Unit.

As the man directly in charge of the unit when President Tinubu ordered the withdrawal of Police officers from VIPs, Disu produced a memo to ensure the president’s directive was carried out but a DIG above him was a stumbling block to carrying out the directive.

When the matter got to IGP Egbetokun, he directed the removal of AIG Disu from SPFU and replaced him with one of his coursemates. Somehow, Mr President got wind of the development and IGP Egbetokun was asked to return Disu from AIG Operations back to SPFU while the Coursemate who replaced him was given administrative leave as he had three months left in service based on age.

However, to show superiority on the matter, IGP Egbetokun ordered Tunji Disu’s redeployment to FCID’ Annex in Lagos, thereby pushing the senior officer completely out of range of Mr. President which was viewed as dissent.

The abuse of special promotions has also come under scrutiny, with allegations of favoritism and unfair practices leaving many officers demoralized. “Within a few years, some officers got promoted three times, without requisite qualifications, exams or even experience/exposure in the job while those who have attended several courses and are highly qualified are neglected with age on rank catching up on them for retirement,” a source said.

A vivid example is the deployment of two Inspectors of Police to the office of a serving governor of a state in this country to serve as Aide De Camp (ADC) and Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the Governor. The rule is that officers of the ranks of Deputy Superintendent of Police and Superintendent of Police should man those positions.

“But these Inspectors were deployed there and as we speak, under three years, these Inspector have gotten rapid Special promotions without attending the required promotion exams and work experience and today they are hanging the ranks of DSP and SP, a process that would have taken 6 to 7 years. Some of their mates are still Sergeants and Inspectors,” a source said.

Meanwhile, 39 senior officers, including DIGs and AIGs, are lobbying to remain in office under Acting IGP Disu, who is expected to be confirmed as the 23rd Indigenous Inspector General of Police.

Disu, 59, has a strong track record, holding a bachelor’s degree in English Education and master’s degrees in Public Administration and Criminology. His appointment is seen as a chance to reform the force and restore morale.

Sources said some of the 39 officers who are seniors to the Acting IGP, including some DIGs, and other senior AIGs in the Police Force are lobbying both the presidency, the National Assembly and the Police Service Commission, to be allowed to remain and work with Tunji Disu.

“The abuse of Special promotions has dampened morale in the Force and it will take a superman to bring the situation to normalcy. Our prayer is for God to give IGP Tunji Disu the grace and right frame of mind despite the pressures that would come from outside the political, traditional and within the Police establishment, to do the right thing”, a source said.

The Police Council meeting expected to hold on Monday, is expected to confirm IGP Olatunji Disu as the 23rd Indigenous Inspector General of Police is in line with the Police Act 2020. Thereafter, the President will send Disu’s name for ratification.