Tinubu Decorates Tunji Disu as Acting IGP, Signals New Era for Nigeria Police

ByNewsmakers

Feb 25, 2026 #Acting Inspector General of Police, #Bola Tinubu decorates Disu, #FCID Alagbon, #Kayode Egbetokun resignation, #Nigeria Police Force leadership transition, #Nigeria security reform, #Police Intelligence Response Team, #Presidential Villa decoration, #Rapid Response Squad Lagos, #State House Abuja ceremony, #Tunji Disu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu decorating newly-appointed acting IGP Olatunji Ridwan Disu at the State House, Abuja, today.

Segun Atanda/

President Bola Tinubu has formally decorated Tunji Disu as the Acting Inspector-General of Police today, marking a defining moment in the leadership transition of the Nigeria Police Force.

The decoration ceremony, held at the State House, Abuja, underscored the President’s confidence in Disu’s capacity to steer the Force at a critical time in Nigeria’s security evolution.

Disu arrived at the Presidential Villa at about 2:50 p.m., ahead of his formal engagement with the President. His presence signaled the culmination of a swift but consequential succession process following the resignation of former IGP, Kayode Egbetokun.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Presidential Spokesperson Bayo Onanuga confirmed that President Tinubu had accepted Egbetokun’s resignation after he cited pressing family considerations.

Born on April 13, 1966, in Lagos State, Disu represents a blend of academic depth and operational experience. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Education from Lagos State University and two Master’s degrees; one in Public Administration from Adekunle Ajasin University and another in Criminology, Security and Legal Psychology from Lagos State University.

He joined the Nigeria Police Force in 1992 as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police and underwent training at the Police Academy in Wudil, Kano State. Over the years, he has built a reputation as a tactical strategist and disciplined field commander.

Disu has served in several strategic capacities nationwide, including Commissioner of Police in Rivers State and the Federal Capital Territory. He also commanded the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) and the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in Lagos, units widely known for high-profile operations against kidnapping, armed robbery, and organized crime.

Before his elevation, he was Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Alagbon, Lagos, a post central to complex criminal investigations.

The decoration comes at a time when Nigeria faces evolving security challenges: from violent crime and cyber threats to communal conflicts and urban criminality. Disu’s background in intelligence-led policing and tactical response positions him at the intersection of enforcement and reform.

Observers say his appointment signals continuity in professional policing while reinforcing the administration’s emphasis on operational efficiency, intelligence gathering, and public accountability.

His rise from Cadet ASP to Acting IGP reflects more than personal achievement; it represents a generational shift within the Force, one anchored in field experience, academic preparation, and strategic command exposure.