President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Tunji Disu as the Acting Inspector General of Police, succeeding Kayode Egbetokun following his resignation. This marks another decisive leadership move aimed at reshaping the direction of policing in Nigeria,
The appointment, announced in February 2026, positions Disu as the 23rd Inspector General of Police and places at the helm of the Nigeria Police Force an officer widely regarded for his operational discipline, intelligence-led policing strategy, and reform-oriented leadership style.
A former Commissioner of Police in the Federal Capital Territory and one-time head of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Disu’s career spans over three decades of field operations, international peacekeeping, intelligence coordination, and administrative command.
His elevation speaks of a possible recalibration of policing priorities, towards professionalism, technology-driven crime fighting, and community trust rebuilding.
What You Should Know About the New IGP, Tunji Disu
Born on April 13, 1966, in Lagos Island, Olatunji Disu Rilwan joined the Nigeria Police Force on May 18, 1992. Over the years, he has built a reputation as a tactically grounded and reform-conscious officer.
Before his appointment as Acting IGP, he served as Commissioner of Police in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, after previously holding the same position in Rivers State.
He is also a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, underscoring his exposure to global policing standards and institutional best practices.
Known within policing circles for blending operational assertiveness with administrative order, Disu’s leadership approach has often emphasized strategic discipline, professional branding, and institutional accountability.
Disu’s Educational Background and Academic Strengths
Disu’s academic trajectory reflects a deliberate alignment with governance, security, and strategic studies. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in English Education from Lagos State University in 1990, laying an early foundation in communication, analysis, and public engagement.
He further obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in International Relations and Strategic Studies from the same institution. Expanding his administrative expertise, he completed a Master’s degree in Public Administration at Adekunle Ajasin University in 2010.
In 2022, he earned another Master’s degree in Criminology, Security, and Legal Psychology from Lagos State University, strengthening his theoretical and analytical understanding of criminal behavior, legal systems, and security architecture.
His professional training spans multiple jurisdictions and specialties. This includes small arms smuggling training in Botswana, internet fraud training at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. Also, a Strategic Leadership Command Course at the Police Staff College in Jos, and forensic investigations and criminal intelligence training at the University of Lagos.
This combination of academic grounding and specialized courses positions him as a police chief with both scholarly insight and practical field exposure.
Career Trajectory and Operational Experience
Disu’s career reflects progressive operational leadership across various commands. He has served as Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Ago Iwoye (Ogun State), Ikare and Owo (Ondo State), as well as Elimbu and Elelenwo in Rivers State.
He rose through tactical units, serving as Officer in Charge of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and anti-kidnapping operations in Rivers State. He also commanded SARS in Ondo, Oyo, and Rivers States, and served as Second-in-Command of the State Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in Rivers.
Internationally, IGP Disu led Nigeria’s first-ever police contingent to the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) in 2005. While deployed in Darfur, he was appointed Acting Chief of Staff before returning to Nigeria in 2006.
This peacekeeping role added multinational coordination and conflict-environment exposure to his professional portfolio.
Lagos RRS Era (2015–2021): Reformist Branding and Community Policing
Perhaps one of the most defining chapters of the newly appointed Inspector General of Police’s career was his tenure as Commander of the Lagos State Rapid Response Squad (RRS) from June 2015 to August 2021.
During this period, he rebranded his officers as “The Good Guys,” a symbolic but strategic shift aimed at softening public perception and reinforcing ethical enforcement.
Under his leadership, the RRS adopted crime mapping and hotspot policing techniques, ensuring visible patrol presence and data-driven deployment across Lagos.
The unit emphasized partnership-based policing, community engagement, and proactive crime prevention. Officers were trained in First Aid and CPR, and frequently assisted citizens beyond enforcement duties.
This includes helping accident victims, aiding stranded motorists, and even transporting women in labor to the nearest available hospitals during the twin-year’s COVID-19 lockdown.
During the 2020 EndSARS protests, Disu reportedly released RRS ambulances to assist injured protesters. This move portrayed a measured and humanitarian approach amid national tension.
His era at RRS earned multiple regional awards and strengthened the narrative of “policing by consent.”
Intelligence Leadership and Strategic Policing
On August 2, 2021, Disu was appointed head of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), taking over from Abba Kyari. The IRT is one of the most strategic intelligence and tactical units within the Nigeria Police Force, often handling high-profile crimes and organized criminal networks.
Under his leadership, the IRT recorded notable successes, including the dismantling of fraud syndicates involved in breaching bank accounts of individuals and corporate bodies.
His performance earned commendation from the police hierarchy and contributed to his promotion to Commissioner of Police in March 2023.
His tenure in intelligence underscores a leadership profile grounded in tactical operations, digital crime investigation, and coordinated security responses, an increasingly critical area in modern policing.
Professional Membership and Awards
Disu maintains active membership in several professional bodies, including the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management, and international forensic institutions.
These affiliations reinforce his alignment with professional standards beyond local policing frameworks. His awards portfolio is extensive. Under his leadership, the RRS received the Best Anti-Crime Police Squad Award in West Africa (2016) from Security Watch Africa.
He was named Most Outstanding Police Operational Officer in West Africa (2016) and Most Outstanding Anti-Crime Police Chief in West and Central Africa (2019). In the same year, he was honored as Man of the Year by the Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria.
Beyond policing, Tunji Disu is a third dan black belt in judo and has won multiple medals nationally and internationally. These awards include a silver medal at the 33rd U.S. Open Judo Championship in 2022.
He previously chaired the Lagos State Judo Association and now serves as patron of the Nigerian Police Judo Association—an aspect that highlights discipline, endurance, and personal resilience.
What This Means for Professional Expectations in the Nigerian Police Force
Disu’s appointment comes at a critical moment for the Nigeria Police Force, amid ongoing public calls for professionalism, accountability, and intelligence-led crime control. His career suggests potential emphasis on:
- Data-driven and technology-supported policing
- Strengthened intelligence coordination
- Community engagement and public trust rebuilding
- Professional branding and institutional discipline
- Enhanced training and capacity development
His academic grounding in criminology and security studies, combined with international exposure and intelligence command experience, may signifies a more structured and strategically responsive policing approach.
Abubakar Kiri, a trained criminologist and security expert maintains that, “While expectations will remain high, stakeholders within the security community, security experts, as well as informed citizens will be watching closely to see whether Disu’s reformist and intelligence-driven record translates into systemic transformation at the national level”.
Talking Points
The appointment of Tunji Disu as Acting Inspector General by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu presents both symbolic promise and structural tests for the Nigeria Police Force.
On paper, Disu’s profile reflects a rare blend of operational toughness, academic depth in criminology and public administration, and intelligence-led policing experience, particularly his tenure at the Rapid Response Squad and the Intelligence Response Team.
However, the transition from commanding specialized units to leading a nationwide institution burdened by systemic challenges, underfunding, internal discipline issues, public mistrust, and political pressure, requires more than tactical brilliance.
The real measure of his leadership will lie in whether he can institutionalize reforms rather than replicate unit-level successes, strengthen accountability mechanisms, depoliticize operational priorities, and modernize intelligence capacity across all commands.
In essence, while Disu’s résumé showcases competence and reformist intent, the sustainability of his impact will depend on structural transformation, not individual charisma or past operational achievements.
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