President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday appointed Tunji Disu as acting Inspector-General of Police following the resignation of Kayode Egbetokun. Announcing the decision, Tinubu said he approved Disu’s appointment with immediate effect in view of the country’s security challenges and in accordance with extant laws.
He expressed confidence that Disu’s experience and leadership capacity would provide direction for the force, adding that the Nigeria Police Council would meet in line with the Police Act 2020 to consider his appointment as substantive Inspector-General of Police before forwarding it to the Senate for confirmation.
Who is Tunji Disu?
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Disu’s appointment marks the culmination of more than three decades in the Nigeria Police Force, where he rose through operational, investigative, and command roles. Born in Lagos Island Local Government Area of Lagos State, he joined the police on May 18, 1992, as an Assistant Superintendent of Police. His entry into the officer corps placed him on a leadership path and introduced him early to criminal investigation, intelligence gathering, and operational policing.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English (Education) from Lagos State University, obtained in 1990, and later earned multiple postgraduate and advanced qualifications. These include a postgraduate diploma in International Relations and Strategic Studies from Lagos State University, a master’s degree in Public Administration from Adekunle Ajasin University in 2010, and a master’s degree in Criminology, Security and Legal Psychology from Lagos State University in 2022.
In 2023, he obtained a master’s degree in Entrepreneurship from the National Open University of Nigeria. He also holds an Advanced Diploma in Forensic Investigation and Criminal Intelligence from the University of Lagos. His professional training covered areas such as forensic investigation, criminal intelligence, small arms smuggling, internet fraud, and strategic leadership.
Disu’s early policing career was rooted in investigation and divisional policing. Between 1993 and 1998, he served as Officer in Charge of the Anti-Fraud Unit at the State Criminal Investigation Department in Katsina State, where he handled financial crime investigations.
In 1999, he was appointed aide-de-camp to Bola Tinubu, then Lagos State governor, a role that exposed him to high-level security coordination. He later served as directing staff at the Nigerian Police Academy, Kano, in 2005, and as officer in Charge of Training at the Police Peacekeeping Department between 2006 and 2007.
He subsequently held divisional command positions in Ondo State, where he served as divisional police officer from 2007, and later led anti-robbery and anti-kidnapping operations in Ondo, Oyo, and Rivers states. Between 2014 and 2015, he served as assistant commissioner of Police in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department in Rivers State and also headed anti-kidnapping operations in the state. These assignments strengthened his investigative experience and exposed him to complex criminal operations.
Disu gained wider recognition when he was appointed commander of the Rapid Response Squad in Lagos in 2015. He led the tactical unit until 2021, overseeing responses to armed robbery, kidnapping, and other violent crimes in Nigeria’s largest city. His tenure coincided with efforts to strengthen rapid deployment and intelligence-led policing in Lagos.
In August 2021, he was appointed deputy commissioner of Police and head of the Police Intelligence Response Team. The unit handles major criminal investigations, including kidnapping and organised crime. His leadership of the Intelligence Response Team placed him at the centre of national criminal investigations and operational responses.
He later served as deputy commissioner of Police in charge of administration and operations at Force Headquarters before his appointment in March 2023 as commissioner of Police in charge of Administration and Intelligence at the Force Intelligence Bureau. In November 2023, he was appointed commissioner of Police in Rivers State, where he oversaw policing operations in one of Nigeria’s key oil-producing regions.
Disu was redeployed in October 2024 as commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory, where he was responsible for security operations in Abuja, including protection of government institutions and coordination with other security agencies. In March 2025, he was promoted to assistant inspector-general of Police and appointed to head the Special Protection Unit at Force Headquarters, Abuja, overseeing protection for high-profile individuals and critical assets.
He was later deployed to head the Force Criminal Investigation Department Annex in Alagbon, Lagos, in February 2026. He held the position until his appointment as acting inspector-general of Police.
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Beyond his operational roles, Disu has participated in international policing assignments, including leading the first Nigerian Police contingent to the African Union Mission in Sudan in 2005. He is also involved in professional and international policing bodies, including membership of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management, and the National Association of Investigative Specialists in the United States.
His career has been marked by recognition and awards, including Commissioner of Police of the Year at the 2024 Inspector-General of Police Recognition Awards. Under his leadership, the Rapid Response Squad received regional recognition for urban crime control, while he was also honoured by the Crime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria.
Disu also holds a third dan black belt in judo and serves as chairman of the Nigeria Police Judo Association. He won a silver medal at the 2022 US Open Judo Championship.
His appointment as acting Inspector-General of Police places him at the head of the Nigeria Police Force, with responsibility for national policing, internal security coordination, and institutional leadership, following a career that spanned investigation, tactical command, intelligence operations, and senior administrative roles.
