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Nigeria’s new acting police chief has been told to confront banditry, terrorism and violent crime as his first priority, with President Bola Tinubu describing the security situation as critical and urging swift action to restore public confidence in law enforcement.
Olatunji Disu was decorated Wednesday as acting inspector-general of police following the retirement of Kayode Egbetokun.
Speaking at the ceremony, Tinubu told Disu the appointment came at a moment when innovation and fresh thinking were urgently needed to reverse persistent insecurity.
“Nigeria is challenged with banditry, terrorism, and other criminal activities. You will be part of the thinking and innovation to overcome them,” Tinubu said, according to a statement issued by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga.
Tinubu said Disu must work to rebuild trust in the police force’s ability to protect citizens, collaborating with other security agencies to deliver results. He framed the appointment as central to the security component of his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to address governance failures and restore stability across the country.
The president said he had confidence in Disu’s discipline, operational background and capacity to lead. “I made this decision for you to assume this responsibility. I know your record. I saw the dedication you exhibited while you were in Lagos when I was governor,” Tinubu said.
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He added: “Lead firmly but fairly, demand professionalism at every level, and ensure that the safety of lives and property remains our highest priority. It’s a daunting challenge. I know you can do it. You have my word, you have my full support.”
Disu takes over a force grappling with widespread public distrust, accusations of brutality and corruption, and operational shortcomings that have left large swaths of the country vulnerable to armed groups. Banditry in the northwest, insurgent violence in the northeast, kidnapping for ransom across multiple regions, and communal clashes in the central states have stretched security forces thin and eroded faith in the government’s ability to protect its citizens.
Before his elevation, Disu served as assistant inspector-general in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department Annex in Alagbon, Lagos.
He was promoted to assistant inspector-general last year. Earlier in his career, he held the position of commissioner of police in Rivers State before being reassigned by Egbetokun to Abuja as commissioner of police for the Federal Capital Territory.
Disu is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and previously led the Intelligence Response Team, a high-profile unit once commanded by Abba Kyari, who was suspended and later arrested on drug trafficking charges.
Born April 13, 1966, on Lagos Island, Disu joined the Nigeria Police Force on May 18, 1992. Over more than three decades, he has served in various capacities, including stints as divisional police officer in Ago Iwoye in Ogun State, Ikare and Owo in Ondo State, and Elimbu and Elelenwo in Rivers State.
Tinubu did not outline specific reforms or operational changes he expects Disu to implement, nor did he address longstanding calls for police restructuring, better funding, improved training or accountability mechanisms. Human rights organizations have repeatedly called for systemic changes to address impunity within the force, particularly following the 2020 EndSARS protests, which were triggered by allegations of extrajudicial killings and abuse by the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad.
Security analysts have pointed to chronic underfunding, poor equipment, low morale and inadequate personnel as obstacles that no single appointment can resolve. The police force remains deeply stretched, with officers often deployed without sufficient logistical support or clear operational mandates in conflict zones.
Disu has not yet made a public statement since assuming the role.
It remains unclear what his immediate priorities will be or whether he plans to introduce changes to command structures or tactical approaches in regions where violence has intensified.
Nigeria’s security crisis has worsened in recent years despite repeated government pledges to restore order. Armed groups operate with relative impunity in parts of the northwest, where banditry has displaced tens of thousands and disrupted farming and trade. In the northeast, Boko Haram and its offshoots continue to stage attacks despite military operations. Kidnappings for ransom have become routine in several states, targeting travelers, students and rural communities.
Tinubu’s administration has faced criticism for its handling of security matters, with opposition figures and civil society groups arguing that coordination among security agencies remains poor and that responses to crises are often reactive rather than strategic.
The president’s instruction to Disu emphasized collaboration with other security forces, though he did not specify how inter-agency cooperation would be improved or whether structural reforms would accompany the leadership change.
