With more than three decades of service defined by tactical field operations, intelligence leadership, and administrative command, Olatunji Ridwan Disu has emerged as the Acting Inspector General of Police, stepping into the highest operational office of the Nigeria Police Force at a critical moment in the country’s security landscape.

 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved Disu’s appointment following the resignation of former IGP Kayode Egbetokun, marking a significant leadership transition within the Force.

Born in Lagos and hailing from Lagos Island Local Government Area, Disu began his policing career on May 18, 1992, when he was appointed Assistant Superintendent of Police. From investigative desks to elite tactical units, his journey through the ranks has been marked by steady advancement and high-stakes assignments.

 

Between 1993 and 1998, he served as Officer in Charge of Anti-Fraud at the State CID in Katsina. In 1999, he was appointed Aide-De-Camp to then Lagos State Governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a role that placed him at the centre of executive security coordination during a formative political period.

By the mid-2000s, Disu had moved into shaping police doctrine and training. He served as Directing Staff at the Nigerian Police Academy in Kano and later headed training at the Police Peace-Keeping Department.

 

In 2005, he led the first-ever Nigerian Police contingent to the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS), contributing to peacekeeping efforts in Darfur — an assignment that expanded his international operational exposure.

From 2007 to 2013, Disu served as Divisional Police Officer in Ondo State before heading the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Ondo and Oyo States. Between 2014 and 2015, he handled anti-kidnapping operations while simultaneously leading the Criminal Investigation Department in Rivers State — a period marked by complex security dynamics.

Perhaps the most defining chapter of his career came between 2015 and 2021, when he served as Commander of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in Lagos.

 

Under his leadership, the RRS gained regional acclaim, earning recognition in 2019 as the Most Outstanding Urban Crime Control Police Command in West and Central Africa. Security Watch Africa also honoured Lagos as the most security-conscious state in Africa in 2016 during his tenure, while the RRS received the Best Anti-Crime Police Squad award in West Africa.

 

Disu was decorated multiple times in 2016 as the Most Outstanding Police Operational Officer in West Africa and Africa. In 2018, he was named Man of the Year by the Crime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria (CRAN).

From 2021 to 2023, Disu headed the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) as Deputy Commissioner of Police. He later served as Commissioner of Police in charge of Administration and Intelligence at the Force Intelligence Bureau.

 

In November 2023, he was appointed Commissioner of Police for Rivers State, overseeing operations in one of Nigeria’s most politically and economically strategic states. In 2024, he was recognised as Best Commissioner of Police of the Year at the Inspector General’s Recognition Awards.

 

His rapid ascent continued with postings to the FCT Police Command and later as Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Special Protection Unit at Force Headquarters, Abuja. Most recently, he headed the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex in Alagbon, Lagos.

Disu combines field experience with strong academic credentials. He holds:

• MSc in Entrepreneurship from the National Open University of Nigeria (2023)

• MSc in Criminology, Security and Legal Psychology from Lagos State University (2022)

• MSc in Public Administration from Adekunle Ajasin University (2010)

• Advanced Diploma in Forensic Investigation and Criminal Intelligence from the University of Lagos

 

He is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, and the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management.

Away from policing, Disu is an accomplished martial artist. A third dan black belt in judo, he serves as National Chairman of the Nigeria Police Judo Association and won a silver medal at the 2022 US Open Judo Championships.

As Acting Inspector General of Police, Disu takes charge at a time of evolving security threats — from organised crime and kidnapping to cybercrime and urban insecurity.

 

Observers within the Force say his blend of operational grit, intelligence coordination, and administrative experience positions him strongly for the role. For many officers, his appointment signals continuity in professionalism and a renewed emphasis on intelligence-led policing — a model he has consistently championed.

 

Now at the helm, the challenge before Olatunji Ridwan Disu is clear: translating decades of experience into measurable national security stability at a time when decisive leadership matters most.