By Peter Omopo
President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday formally decorated Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, as the new Acting Inspector-General of Police.
The ceremony was held at about 3 p.m. at the President’s office in the State House, Abuja. In attendance were the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, the immediate past Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and other top government officials.
President Tinubu personally pinned the new insignia on Disu’s uniform alongside his wife, Folashade Disu, symbolising the transfer of leadership at the helm of the Nigeria Police Force.
The development came less than 24 hours after Egbetokun submitted his resignation letter, citing family matters that require his full attention. In a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President accepted the resignation and commended Egbetokun for his service to the nation. However, sources at the Presidency indicated that the former IGP was asked to step down during a meeting with the President at the Presidential Villa on Monday evening.
Disu’s appointment comes 48 days before his scheduled retirement on April 13, 2026, when he is expected to attain the mandatory retirement age of 60. Under the amended Police Act, which allows an Inspector-General to serve a four-year tenure regardless of age, he could remain in office until 2030 if confirmed.
For now, Disu remains in acting capacity pending confirmation by the Nigeria Police Council, after which his name will be forwarded to the Senate.
His appointment is expected to trigger a significant shake-up within the Force hierarchy. At least nine serving Deputy Inspectors-General may retire in line with police tradition, where senior officers vacate their positions when a junior colleague is appointed Inspector-General. Sources within the Police Service Commission said between 15 and 20 senior officers could exit the system in the coming days.
Disu is expected to formally assume office at the Louis Edet House, Force Headquarters, Abuja, with a handover ceremony and parade of senior officers.
Born on April 13, 1966, Disu joined the Nigeria Police Force in May 1992 and has spent over three decades in service. He gained prominence as Commander of the Rapid Response Squad in Lagos, where he rebranded the unit as “The Good Guys” and earned recognition for anti-crime operations. He later headed the Intelligence Response Team and served as Commissioner of Police in Rivers State and the Federal Capital Territory before his elevation to Assistant Inspector-General in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department Annex, Alagbon, Lagos.
Beyond policing, Disu is also a judoka who has won medals at national and international competitions. With his decoration completed, attention now shifts to his confirmation process and the anticipated changes his leadership may bring to Nigeria’s policing structure.
