Commissioner of Police Akin Fakorede has been removed as Head of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Monitoring Unit at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
Sources within the Nigeria Police Force confirmed on Sunday that the decision was ordered by the Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, although official reasons for the removal have not yet been publicly disclosed.
Fakorede, a former commander of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), was appointed to head the powerful monitoring unit in December 2024 by the then Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
His appointment at the time triggered strong criticism from civil society organisations and human rights advocates who cited his controversial record during his tenure in SARS, where he faced allegations of brutality, extrajudicial killings and involvement in election-related misconduct.
Human rights groups warned that placing Fakorede in charge of the unit responsible for monitoring police conduct could erode public confidence in the force.
A source familiar with the development told SaharaReporters that the change in leadership followed mounting complaints about the officer’s conduct while heading the unit.
“His tenure attracted several controversies and complaints from different quarters. The leadership of the force felt a change was necessary,” the source said.
Fakorede’s time at the monitoring unit was also marred by allegations of bias and unprofessional conduct, particularly in relation to a protracted land dispute at the River Park Estate in Abuja involving Ghanaian investors.
The controversy escalated in January 2026 when personnel reportedly attached to the unit were accused of attacking journalists and workers during a protest linked to the estate dispute.
The officer had earlier come under intense criticism from the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
In September 2025, Wike publicly condemned Fakorede during an appearance on Channels Television, accusing him of a history of brutality and interference in elections, particularly during his time commanding the Federal SARS unit in Rivers State.
“Then the only policeman, the one they called Akin Fakorede, I hear now is the one in charge of the IG monitoring team. He was in charge of SARS. That was a killer,” Wike said during the interview.
The minister also claimed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had previously written to the police requesting that Fakorede be barred from participating in election duties due to allegations surrounding his conduct.
Wike added that he had personally raised the issue with former IGP Egbetokun, warning that Fakorede’s appointment to the monitoring unit could damage the credibility of the police.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigeria Police Force has not issued an official statement regarding Fakorede’s removal or who will replace him as head of the monitoring unit.
