Acting IGP Olatunji Disu
Nigeria’s 22nd Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun has been removed from office, and this is official. In his place, Olatunji Disu, an Assistant Inspector General of Police has been named as his successor in acting capacity by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Newsmata.com.ng reports that the official confirmation of the change of guards at the highest hierarchy of the Nigeria Police Force was conveyed Tuesday evening via a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
Onanuga announced that President Tinubu has accepted Egbetokun’s resignation “following the submission of his letter citing pressing family considerations”.
According to the statement, “President Tinubu received Mr Egbetokun’s resignation earlier today and expressed his profound appreciation for Egbetokun’s decades of distinguished service to the Nigeria Police Force and the nation.
“The President acknowledged his dedication, professionalism, and steadfast commitment to strengthening internal security architecture during his tenure.”
Following his tenure elongation on June 4, 2023, Egbetokun was serving a four-year term set to end in June 2027, in accordance with the amended provisions of the Police Act 2020.
Announcing the appointment of Assistant Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu as the acting IGP with immediate effect, Onanuga said, “In view of the current security challenges confronting the nation, and acting in accordance with extant laws and legal guidance, President Tinubu has approved the appointment of Assistant Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu to serve as Acting Inspector-General of Police with immediate effect.
“The President is confident that AIG Disu’s experience, operational depth, and demonstrated leadership capacity will provide steady and focused direction for the Nigeria Police Force during this critical period.”
“In compliance with the provisions of the Police Act 2020, President Tinubu will convene a meeting of the Nigeria Police Council shortly to formally consider the appointment of AIG Disu as substantive Inspector-General of Police, after which his name will be transmitted to the Senate for confirmation”.
Olatunji Disu, a seasoned senior police officer, and Nigeria’s 23rd Inspector‑General of Police, IGP, is generally known is a career officer with more than three decades of service in the Nigeria Police Force.
Born on 13 April 1966 in Lagos Island, Lagos State, he joined the police on May 18, 1992, and has risen steadily through the ranks.
A graduate of English Education from Lagos State University, he also holds a postgraduate diploma in International Relations and Strategic Studies, as well as two master’s degrees — one in Public Administration from Adekunle Ajasin University and another in Criminology, Security and Legal Psychology from Lagos State University.
He has attended numerous professional training courses in Nigeria and abroad, including programmes in small arms smuggling, internet fraud, strategic leadership, and forensic investigations.
Throughout his career, Disu has held several high-profile and operational leadership roles. He was 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), filling the vacancy left by the suspension of Abba Kyari.
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 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.
Disu takes over at a critical time for the Nigeria Police Force, amid public demand for reforms, improved security and stronger accountability. With experience spanning field operations, intelligence, international peacekeeping and community policing, expectations are high that he will bring both strategic insight and operational discipline to the role.
As he steps into the office of Inspector-General, attention now turns to how he will shape the next chapter of policing in Nigeria — and whether his track record of reform-minded leadership will translate into nationwide transformation.
