Who the Cap Fits: Meet New Lagos Police Boss, Kayode Egbetokun

Segun Atanda/

Amid rising security challenges in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial honeypot, police authorities have handed the state over to an officer who knows its every nook and cranny like the back of his hand.

Acting Commissioner of Police (CP), Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, is however not your everyday police officer.

Besides being an accomplished crime fighter, Egbetokun is an academic – a Mathematician, Scientist, and Engineer all rolled into one.

He had passed through the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Delta State University (DELSU) and the Lagos State University (LASU).

The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris believes that the crime-fighting mathematician will figure out a solution to the rising crime rate in Lagos.

Tough as old boots, Egbetokun was the second officer to head the elite crime-fighting apparatus known as Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in Lagos, from 2005 to 2007, after the pioneer commander, the late Tunde Sobulo.

Born on September 4, 1964, to the family of Mr and Mrs Nathaniel Taiwo Egbetokun of Erinja Orile, Yewa South Local Government area of Ogun State, CP Egbetokun enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) on March 3, 1990, as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police. He had his initial Cadet training at the Nigeria Police Academy Annex, Kaduna and has attended many other courses within and outside the NPF.  He had worked in several police commands and formations across the country and held command positions at various times.

As a Deputy Superintendent of Police in 1999, he served as the Chief Security Officer to the Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and coordinated the security of the state for the Governor.

Before his present posting, he was the Commissioner of Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD). He had also served as the Commissioner of Police Servicom at the Force Headquarters, Abuja; Deputy Commandant Police College, Ikeja; Commandant Police Training School Ikeja; Area Commander Gusau, Zamfara; Area Commander Osogbo; Commander Rapid Response Squad (RRS) Lagos; Squadron Commander, Mopol 5 Benin; O/C Anti-fraud, FCT Command, Abuja; CSP ‘’Admin’ Lagos State Command HQ Ikeja among others.   

Egbetokun holds the Bachelor of Science degree (BSc) in Mathematics, Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Science, MSc Engineering Analysis all from the University of Lagos, Akoka. He taught Mathematics briefly at Yaba College of Technology, Lagos before his enlistment into the NPF.

Egbetokun has PGD in Petroleum Economics from Delta State University, Abraka and Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Lagos State University, Ojo.

He attended Close Protection Course at Dunkeswell Honiton, Chichester, UK, participated in the recent Global conference in Chemical security and Emerging Threats at Lyon, France, and has attended a host of other courses both in Nigeria and overseas. 

Renowned as a seasoned officer, disciplined and incorruptible, Egbetokun has also been celebrated for being firmly committed to discharging his duties with vigour, honour and integrity. He has often expressed his belief in a strong Police institution as an indispensable tool for sustainable economic growth in Nigeria.

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