Olatunji Disu and the Renewed Confidence in Nigerian Policing
By Kabir Akintayo
For many years, discussions about insecurity in Nigeria often revolved around what the military was doing. The Nigeria Police Force, constitutionally charged with internal security and law enforcement, frequently found itself overshadowed by military operations across the country. As criminality evolved and insecurity intensified, the military increasingly became involved in duties traditionally reserved for the police.
Today, that narrative appears to be gradually changing.
Since the appointment of Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Olatunji Disu, the Nigeria Police Force has become more visible, proactive, and operationally assertive in addressing security challenges across the country. While Nigeria’s security situation remains complex and far from resolved, recent developments suggest that the police are steadily reclaiming their place as the nation’s primary internal security institution.
The transformation is evident not only in the frequency of police-led operations but also in the growing confidence being expressed by citizens, stakeholders, and even sister security agencies regarding the Force’s capabilities.
One of the most notable examples came in Kogi State, where notorious bandit commander Kachalla Ibrahim Battijo was neutralised during a joint operation involving the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, and the Office of the National Security Adviser’s Counter-Terrorism Unit. The operation demonstrated the value of inter-agency collaboration and reinforced public confidence in the ability of security institutions to work together toward a common objective.
Across the country, similar successes have continued to emerge.
In Oyo State, where the recent abduction of schoolchildren and teachers once again highlighted the persistence of insecurity, the police nevertheless recorded a significant breakthrough on June 6, 2026, when operatives rescued Mrs. Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul and her 12-year-old twin sons, Peter and Paul, only three days after their abduction in Ibadan.
In Kwara State, police operatives dismantled a suspected bandit logistics network and arrested a key suspect linked to criminal activities in the state.
Perhaps nowhere has the operational intensity of the Force been more evident than in Katsina State, one of Nigeria’s frontline theatres in the battle against banditry and kidnapping.
In May 2026 alone, the Katsina State Police Command arrested 225 suspects linked to kidnapping, banditry, and arms trafficking while rescuing 17 abducted victims. The previous month, 344 suspects were arrested and 27 victims rescued. In March, another 188 suspects were apprehended, while 12 kidnap victims regained their freedom through coordinated operations across the state.
The command also dismantled a seven-man kidnapping syndicate, recovering ₦7.5 million in ransom proceeds, arrested a suspected informant linked to the deadly Sayaya village attack, and foiled a kidnapping operation along the Katsina-Kankara Road, rescuing nine passengers.
Similarly, in Zamfara State, a joint security team led by the Police Command repelled a major attack on Kanoma Town and Gidan Daji Village in Maru Local Government Area, neutralising six bandits. Other operations resulted in the elimination of notorious criminal leaders and the arrest of several suspects across the state.
These achievements are not isolated incidents. Rather, they reflect a broader pattern that has emerged under the current police leadership.
What appears to distinguish IGP Disu’s tenure is not merely the number of arrests or successful operations, but the philosophy underpinning his approach to leadership.
One defining feature has been his willingness to lead from the front.
Following the tragic death of three Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) officers, including SP Abdulrazak Musa Hassan, who were killed by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) while clearing a route along the Anka-Bagega axis in Zamfara State, the IGP personally travelled to the state to attend their funeral prayers, console their families, and reassure officers that the sacrifices of their fallen colleagues would never be forgotten.
A similar gesture followed the loss of 17 Mobile Police officers during a terrorist attack on the Nigerian Army Special Forces School in Buni Yadi, Yobe State. Despite adverse weather conditions, the IGP attended ceremonies held in honour of the slain officers and reaffirmed the Force’s determination to continue confronting terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and violent crime.
Read Also:
Such actions may appear symbolic, but symbolism matters in institutions where morale often determines performance.
Beyond operational engagements, Disu has also embarked on significant institutional reforms aimed at repositioning the Force for contemporary policing challenges.
At the heart of these reforms is a strong emphasis on technology, intelligence-led policing, and data-driven decision-making.
The IGP has repeatedly stressed the importance of modernising police operations through improved intelligence systems, technological innovation, digital tools, and more effective data management.
One manifestation of this vision is the tactical deployment of Deputy Inspectors-General of Police to various geopolitical zones. The initiative seeks to bring strategic leadership closer to operational theatres, improve accountability, enhance intelligence gathering, and ensure faster responses to emerging threats.
According to the police leadership, the objective is clear: strengthen coordination against kidnapping, banditry, insurgency, armed robbery, and other security threats while improving communication across commands and formations.
Equally noteworthy is the growing culture of field leadership that appears to be taking root within the Force.
The Federal Capital Territory Police Command recently demonstrated this when Commissioner of Police Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi personally led an operation that resulted in the neutralisation of four bandits, the rescue of five kidnapped victims, and the arrest of two suspects in the Byazhin area of Kubwa, Abuja.
Such direct involvement by senior officers reflects a leadership culture that prioritises accountability and operational engagement rather than remote supervision.
Personnel welfare has also featured prominently in the reform agenda.
Since assuming office, Disu has taken steps to address longstanding concerns regarding career progression, welfare, discipline, and institutional morale. One of the most significant measures was the approval of the promotion of 17,952 junior officers across various ranks within the Force.
The exercise was not merely administrative. It sent a message that dedication, professionalism, and hard work would be recognised and rewarded.
For a Force whose effectiveness depends largely on the motivation of its personnel, such initiatives have important implications for performance and morale.
The IGP has also emphasised the importance of community-based policing and stakeholder engagement. During his interaction with the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council in Jigawa State, he highlighted the critical role of traditional institutions in intelligence gathering, conflict resolution, community mobilisation, and early warning mechanisms.
The message was clear: security cannot be achieved by the police alone.
Traditional rulers, community leaders, religious institutions, civil society organisations, and citizens all have roles to play in building safer communities.
Interestingly, Disu’s tenure has also renewed conversations about the future of policing in Nigeria, particularly the debate surrounding state police and broader police reforms. While opinions differ on the subject, there is little doubt that his leadership has injected fresh optimism into an institution that many Nigerians had long viewed with scepticism.
For officers and men of the Force, that optimism appears rooted in a belief that the current leadership understands both their challenges and their aspirations.
Those familiar with Disu’s record as Commander of the Lagos State Rapid Response Squad (RRS) will find little surprising about his current approach. Under his leadership, the RRS became one of the most disciplined, responsive, and professional tactical policing units in the country, earning public respect for its operational efficiency and professionalism.
Many observers now believe he is attempting to replicate that model across the Nigeria Police Force.
Of course, challenges remain.
Kidnapping, banditry, terrorism, cybercrime, and violent criminality continue to threaten national security. Public expectations remain high, and the task of reforming a large institution such as the Nigeria Police Force is neither simple nor immediate.
Yet leadership is often measured not by the absence of challenges but by the direction of change.
And by that measure, the Nigeria Police Force under IGP Olatunji Disu appears to be moving toward greater professionalism, improved operational effectiveness, stronger personnel morale, and renewed public confidence.
If the current momentum is sustained, the ongoing transformation of the Force may well be remembered as one of the most significant chapters in the evolution of modern policing in Nigeria.
The journey is far from over, but the signs of progress are increasingly difficult to ignore.
