President Bola Tinubu has officially decorated Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Olatunji (Tunji) Disu as the new Acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP) in a ceremony held at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, inside the President’s office at the State House, Abuja.
The event was attended by key figures, including Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, immediate past IGP Kayode Egbetokun, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, and other senior government officials.
President Tinubu personally pinned the new insignia on Disu’s uniform, with his wife, Mrs. Folashade Disu, present for the symbolic moment marking the leadership transition in the Nigeria Police Force.
The appointment follows the resignation of Kayode Egbetokun, who submitted his letter citing family matters requiring his full attention. A statement from the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed the President’s acceptance of the resignation and expressed gratitude for Egbetokun’s service. However, sources indicate that Egbetokun was requested to step down during a meeting with the President at the Presidential Villa on Monday evening.
Disu’s elevation comes amid ongoing national security challenges, with the Presidency emphasizing the need for experienced leadership to address them effectively. The 59-year-old officer, born on April 13, 1966, joined the Nigeria Police Force in May 1992 and has over three decades of distinguished service.
He gained prominence as Commander of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in Lagos, where he rebranded the unit as “The Good Guys” and led successful anti-crime initiatives. Disu later commanded the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), served as Commissioner of Police in Rivers State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and most recently headed the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex in Alagbon, Lagos, as AIG.
Notably, Disu is just 48 days from his scheduled mandatory retirement on April 13, 2026, upon turning 60. However, amendments to the Police Act allow an IGP to serve a full four-year term irrespective of age, potentially extending his tenure until 2030 if confirmed as substantive IGP.
He currently serves in an acting capacity, pending formal consideration by the Nigeria Police Council and subsequent transmission of his name to the Senate for confirmation.
The appointment is anticipated to prompt significant changes in the Force’s hierarchy. Police tradition typically requires several senior officers—potentially up to nine Deputy Inspectors-General and 15–20 other high-ranking personnel—to retire or vacate positions following the selection of a junior officer as IGP.
Disu is expected to assume full command at the Louis Edet House, Force Headquarters in Abuja, with a formal handover ceremony and parade of senior officers. President Tinubu has charged him to enhance the Police Force’s performance and restore peace and security across the nation.
