By James Sunday, FCAI, MNIIA
Leadership is about merit, pragmatism, and honesty. Another school of thought offers a broader perspective, character, competence, and capability.
The Nigeria Police Force, under the leadership of Olatunji Disu, is expected to do well in re-jigging, re-engineering, and reinventing people-friendly policing, not just community policing, that is highly professional and ethically re-oriented. Officers and men must also take pride in their appearance and conduct. The new sheriff is a squared officer, and Nigerians should pray for his success, an excellent working team, and sustained public trust.
A preview of his profile:
The newly appointed Inspector-General of Police, as published on February 24, 2026, in a State House press statement.
Olatunji Disu, a highly experienced senior police officer, was appointed Nigeria’s 23rd Inspector-General of Police (IGP) on Tuesday, February 23, 2026, succeeding Kayode Egbetokun following a directive by President Bola Tinubu.
Tunji Disu, as he is generally known, is a career officer with more than three decades of service in the Nigeria Police Force.
Born in Lagos Island, Lagos State, he joined the police force on May 18, 1992, and has risen steadily through the ranks.
A graduate of Lagos State University (LASU) with a degree in English Education, Disu also holds master’s degrees in Public Administration and Criminology, Security and Legal Psychology.
He has attended numerous professional training courses in Nigeria and abroad, including courses in small arms smuggling, internet fraud, strategic leadership, and forensic investigations.
Throughout his career, Disu has held several high-profile operational and leadership roles. He served as Commander of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in Lagos, where he led proactive crime-fighting initiatives, and later became Head of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT).
Disu has also served as Commissioner of Police in Rivers State and in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, overseeing law enforcement and public safety in the nation’s capital.
He served as Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Special Protection Unit (SPU), a highly sensitive intelligence and security unit responsible for the protection of citizens and high-profile individuals. He later served at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Alagbon, Lagos, where he strengthened investigative capacity and promoted professionalism.
Known for his operational expertise and commitment to professionalism, Disu has built a reputation as a disciplined officer with extensive experience in crime control, intelligence, and strategic policing.