By admin 
Olatunji Ridwan Disu has been appointed as Nigeria’s Acting Inspector General of Police, marking the latest milestone in a policing career spanning more than three decades.
Born in Lagos, he hails from Lagos Island Local Government Area in Lagos State. He joined the Nigeria Police Force on 18 May 1992 as an Assistant Superintendent of Police.
Policing career
Before his latest appointment, Mr Disu served as Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex in Alagbon, Lagos, a role he assumed in February 2026.
He previously headed the Special Protection Unit at Force Headquarters in Abuja between March 2025 and February 2026, and also served with the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command from October 2024 to March 2025.
Between November 2023 and October 2024, he was Commissioner of Police in Rivers State. Earlier in 2023, he served briefly as Commissioner of Police in charge of Administration and Intelligence at the Force Intelligence Bureau.
From August 2021 to March 2023, he led the Intelligence Response Team as Deputy Commissioner of Police. He also held senior operational roles at Force Headquarters and commanded the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in Lagos from 2015 to 2021.
His earlier postings included leadership of anti-kidnapping and criminal investigation units in Rivers State, oversight of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Ondo and Oyo states, and service as a Divisional Police Officer in Ondo State.
In 1999, he served as Aide-De-Camp to the then Governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu.
Mr Disu also has international peacekeeping experience. In 2005, he led the first Nigerian Police contingent deployed to the African Union Mission in Sudan, tasked with addressing the crisis in Darfur.
Education and professional affiliations
Mr Disu holds multiple academic qualifications, including a Master’s degree in Entrepreneurship from the National Open University of Nigeria (2023), a Master’s in Criminology, Security and Legal Psychology from Lagos State University (2022), and a Master’s in Public Administration from Adekunle Ajasin University (2010).
He also earned a postgraduate diploma in International Relations and Strategic Studies and a Bachelor’s degree in English (Education), both from Lagos State University. In addition, he holds an Advanced Diploma in Forensic Investigation and Criminal Intelligence from the University of Lagos.
He is a member of several professional bodies, including the International Academy of Forensics, the National Association of Investigative Specialists (United States), the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management and the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
Awards and distinctions
Mr Disu has received several awards during his career. 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 was recognised as the Most Outstanding Urban Crime Control Police Command in West and Central Africa in 2019. He has also been honoured by the Crime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria as Man of the Year in 2018.
Sporting achievements
Outside policing, Mr Disu is a third dan black belt in judo and serves as National Chairman of the Nigeria Police Judo Association. In 2022, he won a silver medal at the US Open Judo Championships.
His appointment as Acting Inspector General comes at a time of heightened public focus on security and police reform in Nigeria.