By Elvis Onuigbo
President Bola Tinubu has appointed AIG Tunji Disu as Acting Inspector-General of Police following the resignation of Kayode Egbetokun, who stepped down citing family reasons. This article explores Disu’s full profile, educational background, career milestones, and what his appointment means for Nigeria’s security landscape.
ABUJA — It was a Tuesday afternoon that Nigeria's policing hierarchy would not soon forget. In a swift and decisive move that sent shockwaves through government circles and security quarters alike, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu formally accepted the resignation of Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun and, in the same breath, announced the appointment of Assistant Inspector-General Olatunji 'Tunji' Disu as the new Acting Inspector-General of Police with immediate effect.
The announcement, made through a statement issued by the President's Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed that Egbetokun had tendered his resignation letter earlier on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, citing pressing family considerations as the reason for his sudden exit. Tinubu, the statement said, expressed profound appreciation for what he described as Egbetokun's 'decades of distinguished service to the Nigeria Police Force and the nation,' acknowledging his dedication, professionalism, and steadfast commitment to strengthening Nigeria's internal security architecture during his tenure.
Egbetokun, who was appointed as the 22nd Inspector-General of Police in June 2023 and confirmed by the Nigeria Police Council in October of that same year, was serving a four-year tenure expected to run until June 2027. His exit was not entirely free of controversy — the latter part of his tenure had drawn sustained public and civil society criticism over questions about whether his continued stay in office beyond the mandatory retirement age of 60 breached police service regulations. Under Section 18(8) of the Police Act 2020, Egbetokun, born on September 4, 1964, was expected to retire in September 2024 upon attaining 60 years of age. Though the police maintained that his continuation did not amount to an extension of tenure but a fulfilment of his original appointment letter, critics remained unconvinced.
Into this charged atmosphere steps a man that security professionals describe as technology-driven, disciplined, and operationally sharp — Olatunji Disu. His appointment is widely seen as an attempt to inject fresh, credible leadership into the police hierarchy at a time when Nigeria grapples with kidnapping, banditry, separatist threats, and organised crime in multiple zones of the country.
In his statement, Onanuga noted that the President, acting in view of the current security challenges confronting the nation and in accordance with extant laws and legal guidance, approved Disu's appointment to steer the affairs of the Nigeria Police Force in an acting capacity. '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,' the statement read.
The Presidency also noted that in compliance with the provisions of the Police Act 2020, Tinubu will shortly convene a meeting of the Nigeria Police Council to formally consider Disu's appointment as substantive Inspector-General of Police. Following the Council's deliberation, his name will be transmitted to the Senate for confirmation in line with statutory requirements. Until that process is completed, Disu holds the reins of the Force in an acting capacity — but there is little doubt in informed circles that the confirmation process is expected to be a formality.
Who Is Tunji Disu? Meet Nigeria's 23rd Inspector-General of Police
Olatunji Disu was born on April 13, 1966, on Lagos Island in Lagos State. He grew up in the sprawling, historically rich coastal city that would later become central to so many chapters of his professional life. He enlisted in the Nigeria Police Force on May 18, 1992, joining as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent after receiving his training at the renowned Police Academy in Kaduna — a training ground that has produced generations of Nigeria's finest law enforcement officers.
For over three decades, Disu has worked his way up through the ranks with methodical consistency, posting landmark achievements at each level and earning a reputation as a cop's cop — the kind of officer that other officers respect and civilians remember.
Disu's academic profile is as impressive as his operational record. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Education from Lagos State University (LASU), a qualification that speaks to a man who understood early in life the power of communication, clarity of thought, and structured reasoning — skills that translate directly to effective policing and leadership.
He did not stop there. Committed to growing beyond the classroom of the streets, Disu pursued a Master's degree in Public Administration from Adekunle Ajasin University, equipping himself with the administrative and governance knowledge required to manage one of Africa's largest police forces. He also earned a second Master's degree in Criminology, Security and Legal Psychology from Lagos State University — a specialisation that gave him deep insight into criminal behaviour, forensic analysis, and the psychological underpinnings of crime and law enforcement.
Beyond his formal degrees, Disu has accumulated an impressive collection of professional certifications and advanced diplomas, including programmes in forensic investigation, criminal intelligence, cybercrime investigation, small arms smuggling, internet fraud, strategic leadership, and legal psychology. He has attended specialised training courses both locally and internationally, in institutions and programmes that placed him at the cutting edge of modern, intelligence-led policing.
Career Journey: From Divisional Police Officer to the Highest Office
Disu's career is a master class in steady, credible progression. After his training at the Police Academy in Kaduna, he began his service as a Divisional Police Officer (DPO), serving in locations that stretched across Nigeria's Southwest and South-South geopolitical zones. He served as DPO in Ago Iwoye in Ogun State, in Ikare and Owo in Ondo State, and in the restive communities of Elimbu and Elelenwo in Rivers State — all postings that placed him face to face with ground-level realities of crime, community policing, and the daily challenges of law enforcement in Nigeria.
He also served as Officer in Charge of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and anti-kidnapping units in Rivers, Ondo, and Oyo States — before SARS became the subject of national controversy and was eventually dissolved following the October 2020 #EndSARS protests. During his tenure with SARS, Disu built a record of operational decisiveness in dealing with armed robbery, kidnapping, and violent crime. He also served as second-in-command of the Rivers State Criminal Investigations Department (CID), honing his investigative credentials.
Peacekeeping in Darfur: A Global Footprint
One of the defining international chapters of Disu's career came in 2005, when he was selected to lead Nigeria's very first police contingent to the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) in the conflict-torn region of Darfur. Serving as Contingent Commander — and later as Acting Chief of Staff of the mission — Disu played a pivotal role in an extremely complex, high-stakes peacekeeping environment. He returned to Nigeria in 2006 having expanded his understanding of international security operations, crisis management, and multinational policing frameworks. This posting remains a point of distinction in his career that sets him apart from many of his peers.
The RRS Years: Rebranding Lagos Policing as 'The Good Guys'
Perhaps no chapter of Disu's career captured public imagination more than his years commanding the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in Lagos State, a posting he held from June 2015 to August 2021. Under his watch, the RRS transformed from a reactive policing unit into a proactive, community-aware rapid intervention force. In a remarkable piece of institutional branding, Disu deliberately rebranded RRS officers under the motto: 'The Good Guys.' It was a symbolic but strategically significant move — a recognition that in an era of deep public distrust of the police, changing the narrative was as important as changing policing methods.
His six years at the RRS cemented his reputation as a reform-minded, tech-savvy officer with the ability to lead large formations and communicate effectively with the public.
Heading the Intelligence Response Team: Taking Over From Abba Kyari
In August 2021, then-Inspector-General Usman Alkali Baba appointed Disu to head the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) — the elite, nationwide anti-crime unit that had been led by the controversial Deputy Commissioner of Police Abba Kyari, who was suspended over allegations linked to his relationship with internet fraudster Hushpuppi. Stepping into a role vacated by such a high-profile figure, and in such controversial circumstances, required both courage and credibility. Disu brought both. Under his leadership, the IRT continued its mandate of targeting high-profile criminal networks, kidnapping syndicates, and organised crime groups across the country.
Commissioner of Police: Rivers State and the FCT
Disu's administrative leadership credentials were further sharpened when he served as Commissioner of Police in Rivers State — one of Nigeria's most strategically important and security-intensive states given its oil wealth and history of communal and cult violence. He later served as Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Abuja, overseeing law enforcement operations in the very seat of Nigeria's government. Both postings required an officer of considerable political acumen, operational command experience, and the ability to manage diverse and competing stakeholder interests. By all accounts, Disu performed creditably in both roles.
Promotion to AIG and the Road to the Top Office
On March 25, 2025, Disu was promoted to the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) — a rank just one step below the apex of the Force. He was subsequently assigned to head the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex at Alagbon in Lagos, a posting that placed him in charge of one of the most critical investigative hubs in the country. It was from this position that the call from the Presidency came — thrusting him from the investigative trenches of Alagbon directly into the most powerful law enforcement seat in the nation.
International Recognition and Professional Affiliations
Disu's profile extends beyond Nigeria's borders. He is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), a prestigious global professional body that connects senior law enforcement leaders across the world. His membership underscores a commitment to international best practices, cross-border collaboration, and the continuous professionalisation of policing — values that Nigeria's Police Force is in desperate need of at this moment in its history.
What Nigerians Are Expecting
The timing of Disu's appointment is critical. Nigeria continues to battle a complex security environment — from Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgency in the North East, to banditry and mass kidnappings in the North West and North Central regions, to separatist agitation and cult violence in the South East and South South. The Police Force is central to any comprehensive response, and Nigerians have long demanded a leadership that prioritises accountability, community trust, and results over bureaucratic self-preservation.
Security analysts who have tracked Disu's career say his technology-driven approach to policing, his investigative background, and his experience heading national operational units like the IRT and the RRS make him well-suited for the demands of the top job. Civil society groups, while cautiously optimistic, have called on the new Acting IGP to demonstrate independence from political pressure, champion the welfare of rank-and-file officers, and build bridges with communities that have historically distrusted the police.
For President Tinubu, the appointment serves a dual purpose it reassures Nigerians that security leadership remains a top priority while also giving him an opportunity to reset the public narrative around the Police Force after the controversies that trailed the final months of Egbetokun's tenure.
A New Chapter for the Nigeria Police Force
As the sun set over Abuja on the evening of February 24, 2026, a new chapter quietly but consequentially began for the Nigeria Police Force. Tunji Disu the Lagos Island boy who turned English Education graduate, the peacekeeping commander who answered duty's call in Darfur's deserts, the officer who dared to call his men 'The Good Guys' when nobody else would now holds the highest badge in Nigerian law enforcement.
The expectations are enormous. The challenges are monumental. But if his career arc is anything to go by, Olatunji Disu has never been a man to shy away from either.