President Bola Tinubu has appointed Assistant Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu as the Acting Inspector-General of Police, following the resignation of Kayode Egbetokun.
The announcement was made on Tuesday evening by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, who said the appointment takes immediate effect.
“In view of the current security challenges confronting the nation, and acting in accordance with extant laws and legal guidance, President Tinubu has approved the appointment of Assistant Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu to serve as Acting Inspector-General of Police with immediate effect,” the statement read.
Onanuga further disclosed that, in line with the provisions of the Police Act 2020, the President will shortly convene a meeting of the Nigeria Police Council to formally consider Disu’s appointment as substantive Inspector-General of Police. His name will thereafter be forwarded to the Senate for confirmation.
Until his elevation, Disu served as Assistant Inspector-General in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Alagbon, Lagos. He was promoted to the rank of AIG last year. Prior to that, he held key positions including Commissioner of Police in Rivers State and Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
A seasoned officer with decades of experience, Disu is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and a former head of the Intelligence Response Team of the Nigeria Police Force — a unit previously led by Abba Kyari.
Born on April 13, 1966, in Lagos Island, Disu enlisted in the Nigeria Police Force on May 18, 1992. Over the course of his career, he has served as Divisional Police Officer in Ago Iwoye (Ogun State), Ikare and Owo (Ondo State), as well as Elimbu and Elelenwo (Rivers State).
He also led Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and anti-kidnapping operations in multiple states, including Ondo, Oyo, and Rivers.
In 2005, he headed the first Nigerian Police contingent to the African Union Mission in Sudan as contingent commander. During the peacekeeping assignment in Darfur, he was appointed acting Chief of Staff before returning to Nigeria in 2006.
Between June 2015 and August 2021, Disu commanded the Lagos State Rapid Response Squad (RRS), where he introduced a reform-driven initiative branding officers as “The Good Guys” — a campaign aimed at promoting professionalism and strengthening public trust in policing.
His appointment marks the end of Egbetokun’s tenure, which began in 2023 when President Tinubu named him the 22nd Inspector-General of Police on June 19. The Nigeria Police Council confirmed his substantive appointment on October 31, 2023.
However, the latter part of Egbetokun’s time in office was overshadowed by controversy surrounding his continued stay beyond the mandatory retirement threshold. Under Section 18(8) of the Police Act 2020, he was expected to retire in September 2024 upon attaining the age of 60.
His tenure, which extended beyond both the 60-year age limit and the 35-year service cap, drew criticism from civil society groups who argued that it contravened established police service regulations and undermined institutional discipline.
The police authorities, however, maintained that there was no tenure extension, insisting that Egbetokun was entitled to complete the four-year term specified in his letter of appointment.
In July 2024, the National Assembly passed the Police Act (Amendment) Bill to allow any appointed Inspector-General of Police to remain in office until the expiration of the term stated in the letter of appointment.
The bill, forwarded to both chambers by President Tinubu, was passed separately by the House of Representatives and the Senate.
With Disu now stepping into the role in an acting capacity, attention shifts to the Nigeria Police Council and the Senate, whose decisions will determine whether he becomes the substantive head of the nation’s police force.
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