Tunji Disu

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Tunji Disu
Tunji Disu 2.jpg
Inspector General of Police
Incumbent
Assumed office
24 February 2026
Occupation Police officer
Military service
AllegianceFlag of Nigeria.svg Nigeria
Branch/service Nigeria Police Force
Rank Inspector General of Police

Olatunji Rilwan Disu (born 13 April 1966) [1] is a Nigerian police officer who has served as the 23rd Inspector General of Police of Nigeria since 2026. He was appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to replace Kayode Egbetokun who resigned in February 2026. [2] [3] He previously served as the Commissioner of Police of the Federal Capital Territory from 2024 to 2025 and as the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State from 2023 till his redeployment to the FCT in 2024. [4]

Contents

Disu is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the former head of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Police Force in Nigeria, the position previously held by Abba Kyari. He is a graduate of English Education from Lagos State University (LASU) and a holder of two master's degrees, one in Public Administration from Adekunle Ajasin University, Ondo State and the other in Criminology, Security, and Legal Psychology from Lagos State University.

Education and training

Olatunji Rilwan Disu was born in Lagos Island, Lagos State on 13 April 1966, he attended Holy Cross Cathedral primary school and completed his primary school education at Mayflower Junior School in Ikenne, Ogun State in 1979. He also went on to Pobuna Secondary Grammar School in Epe, and St Gregory's College, Lagos where he finished his secondary education in 1985. [5]

He later gained admission to study English (Education) at the Lagos State University where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in English Education in 1990. He obtained a post-graduate Diploma in International Relations and Strategic Studies from Lagos State University, and a certificate in Personal Protection from the United Kingdom.

Disu holds two master's degrees in Public Administration and also in Criminology, Security, and Legal Psychology from Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba (2010) and Lagos State University (2022) respectively. [6]

He has also attended different professional courses within and outside Nigeria including Small Arms Smuggling Training in Botswana, Internet Fraud Training at the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, Strategic Leadership Command Course at the Police Staff College, Jos, Forensic Investigations and Criminal Intelligence Course at the University of Lagos, amongst others. [7]

Career

Disu joined the Nigeria Police on 18 May 1992. [8] He has served as Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in several divisions of the Nigerian Police Force in Ago-Iwoye (Ogun State), Ikare (Ondo State), Owo (Ondo State), Elimbu and Elelenwo, in Rivers State.

He was also Officer in Charge of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and anti-kidnapping in Rivers State and was SARS commander in Ondo, Oyo and Rivers State. He was also second in command (2IC) State Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Rivers State. [8] [9]

In 2005, as contingent commander, he led the first-ever Nigerian Police contingent on African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) on a peacekeeping mission. While in Darfur, he was appointed the acting Chief of Staff until his return to Nigeria in 2006. [8]

He served as the commander of the Lagos State Rapid Respond Squad (RRS) from 13 June 2015 to 2 August 2021. While in RRS, Disu named his officers ‘The Good Guys’, a move that helped reform officers to enforce the law responsibly yet remain friendly to citizens while carrying out their activities. [10]

Under Disu, the RRS provided its services through a partnership-based and proactive problem-solving style of policing, focusing on community engagement, crime prevention and law enforcement. The RRS equally made effective use of crime mapping and hot spot policing, which resulted in the visible positioning of police patrol vehicles for crime reduction across Lagos. [11]

The RRS in return enjoyed the cooperation and admiration of Lagosians. The officers reportedly render help to drivers of broken down vehicles and assist accident victims. In 2020, Disu's officers took a woman in labour to the hospital during the COVID-19 lockdown in Lagos. [12]

Disu's officers operated with an unusual mindset and adhered to the concept of policing by consent similar to advanced countries. The RRS officers were trained in the administration of First Aid and CPR, which was put to use when treating citizens in emergencies. [11]

Disu served as the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Department of Operations, Force Headquarters, Abuja. On 2 August 2021, inspector-general of police Usman Alkali Baba appointed Disu as the new head of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), a position previously held by Abba Kyari. [13]

In July 2022, IGP Alkali Baba commended the Disu-led Force Intelligence Bureau Intelligence Response Squad (FIB-IRT) for recent successes, which includes the arrest of a fraud syndicate specialized in breaching bank accounts of individuals and corporate bodies. [14] DCP Tunji Disu was promoted to the rank of Commissioner of Police in March 2023 by the Nigerian Police Service Commission. [15]

In February 2026, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Disu as the Acting Inspector General Police succeeding Kayode Egbetokun after his resignation. [16] [17]

Membership

Disu is a member of various local and international professional bodies including; the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPM), International Institute of Certified Forensics Investigation Professionals, International Academy of Forensics and the National Association of Investigative Specialist, US (NAIS). [18] [19]

Judo

Disu won a silver medal at the 33rd U.S. Open Judo Championship on 31 July 2022, [20] where he contested in the minus 100 kg category of the veteran division. He is a third dan black belter in Judo with many medals. Since becoming a judoka in 1986, he has won one gold medal at the national sports festival in 1990 in Bauchi, two gold medals at the Nigerian police games and a silver medal at the armed forces and police games. In November 2021, Disu won another gold medal at the first veteran championships organised by the Nigerian police. [21]

He is formerly the Chairman of Lagos State Judo Association and currently the patron of the Nigerian Police Judo Association. [22]

EndSars

During the End SARS protests against police brutality in 2020, it was reported that Disu, then head of the Police Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Lagos State, released his command's ambulances to help protesters in need of medical care. [23]

Controversy

At the time of his appointment as IGP-IRT, it was reported that Disu was born on 17 April 1960, [10] a report debunked by Frank Mba, the Police Force public relations officers (FPRO). [24]

Awards

References

  1. ↑ "FACT CHECK: Born in 1960? Is Tunji Disu, new head of Police IRT, due for retirement?". TheCable . 8 August 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  2. ↑ Mohammed, Yakubu (24 February 2026). "JUST IN: IGP Egbetokun forced to resign, to be replaced by AIG Disu". Premium Times . ISSN   2360-7688 . Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  3. ↑ Atungwu, Matthew (2 March 2026). "Police Council confirms Tunji Disu as IGP". Daily Post . Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  4. ↑ Olufemi, Damilola (19 September 2024). "Egbetokun deploys Tunji Disu, two other police commissioners". BusinessDay . Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  5. ↑ "Tunji Disu Biography". Naija Biography. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  6. ↑ "Former RRS boss Tunji Disu replaces Abba Kyari as head of IRT". The Guardian . Lagos, Nigeria. 2 August 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  7. ↑ "IGP Appoints Replacement For Suspended Abba Kyari". Radio Nigeria. 1 August 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  8. 1 2 3 "Corrected: Wetin you suppose know about Tunji Disu wey dey replace Abba Kyari". BBC News Pidgin. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  9. ↑ Odeyemi, Joshua (1 August 2022). "10 things about Disu, Deputy Police Commissioner who won at U.S Judo competition". Daily Trust . Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  10. 1 2 Ogunyinka, Victor (3 August 2021). "DCP Tunji: 10 things you need to know about the new IRT head". Vanguard . Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  11. 1 2 "Our battle against criminals, by Lagos anti-robbery chief". The Nation . Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  12. ↑ "RRS Rewards Police Officers who Assisted Woman in Labour" . Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  13. ↑ "IGP Lauds FIB-IRT Over Arrest Of Bank Officials Planning Robbery In Oyo". BBC News Pidgin. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  14. ↑ "Nigeria Inspector-General appoint replacement for Abba Kyari" . Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  15. ↑ "Award-Winning Cop, Tunji Disu Promoted CP" . Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  16. ↑ Opejobi, Seun (24 February 2026). "Tunji Disu appointed new IGP as Tinubu sacks Egbetokun". Daily Post . Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  17. ↑ Daniel, Eniola (24 February 2026). "Disu replaces Egbetokun as 23rd Inspector-General of Police". The Guardian . Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  18. ↑ "'TUNJI DISU: REPOSITIONING SWIFT RESPONSE".
  19. ↑ "Full profile of New IRT boss, Tunji Disu as IGP removes Abba Kyari".
  20. ↑ Seefinish (1 August 2022). "Tunji Disu Wins Judo Fighter Silver Medal In US Open". Seefinish. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  21. ↑ "Nigerian Super-Cop Tunji Disu wins silver at U.S. Judo championship" . Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  22. ↑ "PHOTOS: DCP Tunji Disu wins silver at US judo championships". TheCable . Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  23. ↑ "SPOTLIGHT: Will 'Good Guy' Tunji Disu be Different from Abba Kyari?" . Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  24. ↑ "FACT CHECK: Born in 1960? Is Tunji Disu, new head of Police IRT, due for retirement?". TheCable . 8 August 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  25. ↑ "Lagos receives award as best security, safety conscious state in Africa". Premium Times . 24 November 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  26. ↑ "Lagos emerges best security, safety conscious State in Africa". The Eagle. 25 November 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  27. ↑ "Tunji Disu: Tribute to a super cop". TheCable . 12 December 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  28. ↑ "anguard's Asst. Crime Editor wins most outstanding Crime Correspondent in Dubai". Vanguard . Lagos, Nigeria. 9 November 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  29. ↑ "RRS Commander Wins CRAN Man Of The Year". ThePledge. 11 January 2019. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
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