By Eric Elezuo
Considering the outpour of love and cheers that greeted the appointment of now Acting Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu, it’s indeed within limit to conclude that the soon-to-turn 60 years old officer is one of the finest and most diligent still in service.
During the week, the presidency the resignation of the erstwhile Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who though it was said he resigned as a result of family issues that require his urgent attention, a cross section of Nigerians believe that the immediate past IGP was sacked by President Bola Tinubu, paving the way for the assumption of his successor, Ag IGP Disu.
Disu therefore, becomes the 23rd indigenous Inspector-General of Police after Egbetokun, whose nearly three years tenure was marred by scandals and struggle for legitimacy. Some saw his last one year in office as unwarranted and undeserved as his statutory mandate as a Nigerian Police officer ended in 2025. But Tinubu, in his magnanimity extended his tenure by another four years. Egbetokun therefore, earned the ‘illegal IG’ tag by Nigerians, especially among civil rights campaigners.
A former presidential aspirant and activist, Omoyele Sowore, was one of Egbetokun’s biggest critics. Egbetokun served as the 22nd Indigenous Inspector-General of Police from 19th June 2023 to 24th February 2026.
Until his appointment, Disu served as Assistant Inspector-General in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Alagbon, Lagos.
He was promoted to the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police in 2025.
Before then, he served as Commissioner of Police in Rivers State and was later redeployed by Egbetokun to the FCT as commissioner.
The former AIG is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and a former Head of the Intelligence Response Team of the Nigeria Police Force, a position previously held by Abba Kyari.
Tunji Disu was born on April 13, 1966, in Lagos Island and enlisted in the Nigeria Police Force on May 18, 1992.
Over the course of his career, he has served as Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in several locations, including Ago Iwoye in Ogun State, Ikare and Owo in Ondo State, as well as Elimbu and Elelenwo in Rivers State.
GENERAL OVERVIEW OF DISU’S CAREER TRAJECTORY
The Acting Inspector-General of Police, born on 13th April, 1966, hails from Lagos Island Local Government Area of Lagos State. His educational qualifications include: MSC Entrepreneurship, NOUN (2023); MSC Criminology, Security and Legal Psychology, LASU (2022); Advanced Diploma in Forensic Investigation and Criminal Intelligence, UNILAG (2019), MSC, Public Administration, Adekunle Ajasin University (2010), PGD International Relations and Strategic Studies, LASU (2000) and B.A English (Education), LASU (1990).
He joined the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police on 18th May, 1992, and brings to the office a wealth of operational, investigative, intelligence, and administrative experience garnered over decades of distinguished service in various strategic capacities across the country. Until his appointment, he was Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Alagbon, Lagos.
Some of his other notable past postings include:
- Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG)
Special Protection Unit (SPU), Force Headquarters, Abuja - Commissioner of Police, FCT Police Command, October
- Commissioner of Police (CP), Rivers State Police Command, November
- Commissioner of Police, Admin and Intelligence, Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB)
- Deputy Commissioner of Police Head, Intelligence Response Team (IRT)
- Commander, Rapid Response Squad (RRS) Lagos, 2015 – 2021
- Assistant Commissioner of Police, Criminal Investigation Department, Rivers State
- Officer in Charge, Anti-Kidnapping, Rivers State
- Officer in Charge, Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Ondo State/Oyo State, 2011 – 2014
- Divisional Police Officer, Ondo State, 2007 – 2013
- Officer in Charge, Training, Nigeria Police Peace-Keeping Department
- Directing Staff, Nigerian Police Academy, Kano
- Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to former Governor Lagos State
- Officer in Charge, Anti-Fraud, State Criminal Investigation Department, Katsina, 1993 – 1998
Ag. IGP Olatunji Disu is a member of the following associations and bodies: International Academy of Forensics; National Association of Investigative Specialists, United States of America (NAIS), Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM); and the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
He successfully led the first-ever Nigerian Police contingent to the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) to quell the crisis in Darfur, Sudan, in 2005.
He was once National Chairman of the Nigeria Police Judo Association and has won his third black belt in Judo, with many other medals, including a silver medal at the 2022 US Open Judo Championships.
His track record of leadership, professionalism, and dedication to duty underscores his readiness to steer the affairs of the Nigeria Police Force at this critical time.
The new Acting Inspector-General of Police, in his maiden address, reassured officers and men of the Force, stakeholders, and the general public of his commitment to consolidating on existing reforms, enhancing internal security, strengthening community partnerships, and advancing the Force’s mandate of protecting lives and property in line with global best practices.
He had noted that the era of impunity was gone, stressing that the period is for re-sanizing the force, as well as creating a new trust between the force and members of the public.
The number one Nigerian cop, standing on the support of the president to be fair and firm, also solicited the continued support and cooperation of the public as his leadership works to deepen professionalism, discipline and service delivery.
The joy that heralded Disu’s appointment is expected to be sustained as he navigates a very brief period as the man at the helm of affairs, cleansing the Aegean stable that has become the Police Force, and turning the crime-ridden Nigerian society into a desired paradise of peace, comfort and tranquility, where all and sundry operates without fear of abduction, theft or intimidation.
