Feature Article By Uloma Peace Okorie
For too long, the story of the Nigeria Police Force has been told through its failures. But on February 24, 2026, that narrative began to change.
On that day, Olatunji Rilwan Disu a 34-year career officer was sworn in as Nigeria’s 23rd Inspector-General of Police. He didn’t come from politics. He didn’t come from shortcuts. He came from the streets, the rain, the patrol vans, and the intelligence rooms where real policing happens.
And that is exactly why Nigerians have reason to hope.
A Policeman’s Policeman
Disu joined the Force on May 18, 1992. Since then, he has served where it matters most: Commander of Lagos Rapid Response Squad, Head of the Intelligence Response Team, CP Rivers, CP FCT, and AIG FCID.
He holds a degree from LASU and two master’s degrees in Public Administration and Criminology. But his real qualification? Experience.
“I know what it means to stand a post in the rain. I know the risks involved,” he said at his inauguration. “Those experiences will live in every decision I make in this office.”
That is leadership that understands the men and women in uniform and the citizens they serve.
The Lagos Blueprint Policing That Serves People
Under him, RRS became the most decorated anti-crime unit in West Africa. In 2016, the squad won “Best Anti-Crime Police Squad in West Africa.” Disu himself was named “Most Outstanding Operational Officer.” In 2019, he won “Most Outstanding Anti-Crime Police Chief” for the region.
Even at the height of the 2020 #EndSARS protests, Disu showed what principled leadership looks like. He ordered RRS ambulances to attend to injured protesters. In a moment of national tension, he chose humanity.
A New IGP, A Clear Agenda
Nigeria didn’t just need a new IGP. It needed a new direction. Disu came with one.
His three-pillar agenda is simple and bold:
1. Professionalism & Modernization Better training, better tools, better results.
2. Accountability & Integrity “Days of impunity are over.” Zero tolerance for misconduct at any rank.
3. Community Partnership Rebuilding trust by policing with the people, not against them.
He hasn’t shied away from the truth. “We have a trust deficit, outdated systems, and resource gaps,” he admitted. “These are not comfortable truths. But they are truths we must face.”
And he’s already facing them. Within his first two months, the Force recorded 280 major arrests including terrorists, kidnappers, and armed robbers. Intelligence-led operations are back at the center of policing.
Analysts note that “rather than relying solely on rhetoric, his administration has introduced operational and institutional reforms intended to improve police effectiveness while restoring public confidence.”
Why Disu Matters Now
This is not about one man. It’s about restoring an institution.
For decades, Nigerians saw the police and felt fear. IGP Disu is working to change that feeling to trust. He’s an intelligence officer in an era that demands intelligence. He’s a disciplinarian in a time that demands accountability. And he’s a human being in a job that demands empathy.
The work is just beginning. Rebuilding a 34-year-old institution won’t happen overnight. But with Disu, the Nigeria Police Force finally has a leader who has walked the walk, and is now ready to lead from the front.
The story of the NPF is being rewritten.
And this time, it’s a story of pride.