The Federal Government has appointed Olatunji Rilwan Disu as the Acting Inspector-General of Police, bringing to the position over three decades of professional experience in policing, intelligence, crime control and security management.
Disu, a seasoned law enforcement officer, hails from Lagos State. He was born in Lagos and is an indigene of Lagos Island Local Government Area. He joined the Nigeria Police Force on May 18, 1992, as an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and has since risen through the ranks, serving in key operational, intelligence and administrative roles across the country.
Extensive Professional Experience
Before his latest appointment, Disu served as Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Alagbon, Lagos, a position he assumed in February 2026. Prior to that, he headed the Special Protection Unit (SPU) at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, from March 2025 to February 2026.
He also served at the Federal Capital Territory Police Command between October 2024 and March 2025. His career includes strategic leadership roles such as Commissioner of Police in Rivers State Police Command from November 2023 to October 2024, and Commissioner of Police, Administration and Intelligence at the Force Intelligence Bureau.
Earlier, he led the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) as Deputy Commissioner of Police, and also served as DCP, Admin Operations, at Force Headquarters. Between 2015 and 2021, Disu was the Commander of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) Lagos, where he played a major role in strengthening urban crime control and emergency response.
His operational experience also spans positions including Assistant Commissioner of Police, Criminal Investigation Department, Rivers State; Officer in Charge of Anti-Kidnapping operations; and head of Special Anti-Robbery Squad units in Ondo and Oyo States. He was Divisional Police Officer in Ondo State for several years and also worked in training, peacekeeping and academic roles within the Nigeria Police.
In 1999, he served as Aide-De-Camp to the then Governor of Lagos State, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Earlier in his career, he handled anti-fraud investigations at the State Criminal Investigation Department in Katsina.
Strong Academic And Professional Background
Disu holds multiple postgraduate qualifications in security, criminology and public administration. His academic credentials include:
- MSc in Entrepreneurship, National Open University of Nigeria (2023)
- MSc in Criminology, Security and Legal Psychology, Lagos State University (2022)
- Advanced Diploma in Forensic Investigation and Criminal Intelligence, University of Lagos (2019)
- MSc in Public Administration, Adekunle Ajasin University (2010)
- Postgraduate Diploma in International Relations and Strategic Studies, Lagos State University
- Bachelor’s degree in English Education, Lagos State University
He is also a member of several professional bodies including the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Chartered Institute of Personnel Management, International Academy of Forensics and the National Association of Investigative Specialists, United States.
Awards And Recognitions
Throughout his career, Disu has received numerous awards in recognition of his operational effectiveness and leadership. He was named Best Commissioner of Police of the Year at the 2024 Inspector-General of Police Recognition Awards.
Under his leadership, the Rapid Response Squad Lagos was recognised as the Most Outstanding Urban Crime Control Police Command in West and Central Africa in 2019. The unit also received the Security Watch Africa Best Anti-Crime Police Squad in West Africa award in 2016.
He was honoured as Crime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria (CRAN) Man of the Year in 2018 and was recognised as the Most Outstanding Police Operational Officer in Africa and West Africa in 2016.
International And Sporting Achievements
Disu has also contributed to international peacekeeping. In 2005, he successfully led the first-ever Nigerian Police contingent to the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS), helping to stabilise crisis-affected areas in Darfur.
Beyond policing, he is a decorated sportsman. He is a third dan black belt in judo, National Chairman of the Nigeria Police Judo Association, and won a silver medal at the 2022 US Open Judo Championship.
Expectations
Security stakeholders say his appointment is expected to strengthen intelligence-driven policing, crime prevention, and professional reforms within the Nigeria Police Force, given his background in tactical operations, intelligence and community policing.
His emergence comes at a critical time when the nation faces evolving security challenges, and many observers believe his experience will play a key role in shaping strategic responses to crime and public safety.
