By Uloma Peace Okorie
When Olatunji Rilwan Disu assumed office as the 23rd Inspector-General of Police on February 24, 2026, the Nigeria Police Force was battling more than crime. It was battling public trust.
Six months later, a different story is unfolding from Force IGP Olatunji Disu: Six Months of Discipline, Intelligence and a Human Face for the Nigeria Police.
Under IGP Disu, the Force has pivoted sharply toward intelligence-led policing, internal accountability, and community partnership — a “gentleman approach” that is beginning to yield measurable results.
The hallmark of the Disu administration has been a deliberate move away from reactive policing.
In April 2026, police operations led to the arrest of 280 suspects across the country. The breakdown included 28 suspected terrorists, 85 kidnapping suspects, 62 armed robbery suspects, 51 murder suspects, and 54 suspected cultists. Police also rescued 189 kidnapped victims and recovered 140 firearms and 1,074 rounds of ammunition.
By June, the momentum held: 8 suspected terrorists, 55 kidnappers, 65 armed robbers, 29 murder suspects, and 42 cultists were arrested, with 88 victims rescued and 114 firearms recovered.
To sustain the push, IGP Disu approved new Counter-Terrorism bases in Madagali, Adamawa; Ikot Odo, Cross River; and Ode-Remo, Ogun, and established a Violent Crime Response Unit to handle serious offences outside conventional structures.
Dismantling Years of Institutional Rot
Perhaps Disu’s most decisive reforms have been internal.
He scrapped the controversial “Keep In View” practice that allowed sensitive criminal files to be buried indefinitely. Within weeks, the Police Monitoring Unit reactivated a suppressed case that previous administrations had sidelined, signaling an end to cover-ups.
The Complaint Response Unit and the Independent X-Squad have been revitalized to investigate misconduct without interference. Commissioners of Police are now held personally liable for indiscipline within their commands. Illegal checkpoints have also faced strict enforcement, aimed at ending public extortion.
“These promotions are a strategic investment in leadership,” Disu told 30 newly decorated senior officers, charging them with zero tolerance for corruption and indiscipline.
Policing With The People
Beyond arrests and weapons, Disu has made public engagement a policy.
In six months he has met with the leadership of the Police Community Relations Committee three times, calling the group a vital partner in intelligence gathering. He has directed all Command CPs to hold regular town-hall meetings with traditional rulers, religious leaders, and community groups, and to make their contact lines public.
On August 20, at the National Youth Leadership and Security Dialogue in Jabi, Abuja, he urged young Nigerians not to be used as instruments of political violence ahead of 2027. His message to citizens has been consistent: “We are not your adversaries. We are your neighbours in uniform.”
Analysts say this openness marks a departure from old command-style policing and is helping to slowly restore confidence.
The Gentleman Commander
Colleagues describe IGP Disu as measured, disciplined, and strategic. A former competitive judoka and US Open silver medalist, he brings the same control and timing to policing. In sensitive postings including Rivers and the FCT, his calm handling helped de-escalate tension.
He has also spoken publicly on welfare, promising personnel: “You will not be asked to perform miracles with nothing,” while pushing for better working conditions.
With the 2027 elections approaching, Disu has ordered absolute neutrality for all officers and unveiled a security framework tested in Ekiti covering over 2,500 polling units.
Early Verdict
The challenges remain enormous — insecurity, corruption, and decades of eroded trust will not disappear in six months. But the early indicators under IGP Disu suggest a Force attempting to redefine itself.
Professionalism. Accountability. Community.
For many Nigerians, that combination is what the police story has been missing.
Disu’s tenure may still be young, but the direction is clear: a police force that polices with intelligence, leads with discipline, and serves with a human face.