Odita Sunday 
By Odita Sunday
In a public security organisation like the Nigeria Police Force, with its institutional challenges and internal politics associated with career progression, it is unarguably not easy for an officer to attain the rank of Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police before the statutory retirement age or completion of 35 years of service. Olatunji Disu, who was promoted and decorated a few months ago as an AIG, could therefore be described as one of those divinely favoured police officers. To his family, friends, well-wishers, and associates, the elevation was both heart-warming and cheering.
However, this achievement did not come on a platter of gold. His career trajectory clearly testifies to the fact that he has always been a committed police officer, endowed with enormous physical and intellectual strength to confront criminal elements wherever he is deployed. As Commissioner of Police in charge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, prior to his promotion, and earlier as Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, Disu displayed professionalism and dedication to what can best be described as patriotic policing. His transparent style of policing has consistently endeared him to the mass media wherever he has served, and he is highly rated for his zero-tolerance stance on corruption.
Born on April 13, 1966, in Lagos Island, Disu attended Holy Cross Cathedral Primary School and completed his primary education at Mayflower Junior School, Ikenne, Ogun State, in 1979. For his secondary education, he attended Pobuna Secondary Grammar School, Epe, and St. Gregory’s College, Lagos, where he obtained his West African School Certificate in 1985.
He later gained admission to study English (Education) at Lagos State University, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in 1990. He subsequently obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in International Relations and Strategic Studies from the same university, as well as a certificate in Personal Protection from the United Kingdom. Disu holds two Master’s degrees — one in Public Administration from Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba (2010), and another in Criminology, Security, and Legal Psychology from Lagos State University (2022).
While growing up, he nursed the ambition of becoming a law enforcement officer. Upon graduation, he sought enlistment into the Nigeria Police Force and was enlisted as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police on May 18, 1992. Over the years, he has served in various capacities across different parts of the country.
He served severally as Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Ago Iwoye (Ogun State), Ikare (Ondo State), Owo (Ondo State), and in Elimbu and Elelenwo, both in Rivers State. He was Officer-in-Charge of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and Anti-Kidnapping Unit in Rivers State, and also served as SARS Commander in Ondo, Oyo, and Rivers States. He was at a time the Second-in-Command (2IC) at the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Rivers State.
In 2005, as Contingent Commander, he led the first-ever Nigerian Police contingent to the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) on a peacekeeping assignment. While serving in Darfur, he was appointed Acting Chief of Staff until his return to Nigeria in 2006.
Disu later served as Commander of the Lagos State Rapid Response Squad (RRS) from June 13, 2015, to August 2021. While at the helm of the RRS, he branded his officers “The Good Guys,” a move that helped reform their orientation toward responsible and citizen-friendly law enforcement. Under his leadership, the RRS adopted a partnership-based and proactive problem-solving policing style, with emphasis on community engagement, crime prevention, and intelligence-led operations.
The RRS made effective use of crime mapping and hotspot policing, resulting in strategic positioning of patrol vehicles across Lagos for crime reduction. Through this cordial relationship with residents, the squad enjoyed widespread cooperation and admiration from Lagosians. Officers reportedly assisted motorists with broken-down vehicles and rendered aid to accident victims. In 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdown, Disu’s officers helped convey a woman in labour to the hospital.
The squad operated with an orientation consistent with the concept of policing by consent, as practised in advanced democracies. Officers were trained in First Aid and CPR, skills which were deployed in responding to emergencies involving citizens.
At different times, he served as Deputy Commissioner of Police, Department of Operations, Force Headquarters, Abuja. In 2022, the then Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, appointed Disu as head of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT). In July 2022, the Inspector-General commended the Disu-led Force Intelligence Bureau – Intelligence Response Team (FIB-IRT) for notable successes, including the arrest of a fraud syndicate that specialised in breaching bank accounts of individuals and corporate organisations.
Over the years, Disu has attended numerous professional courses within and outside Nigeria, including Small Arms Smuggling Training in Botswana; Internet Fraud Training at the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom; the Strategic Leadership and Command Course at the Police Staff College, Jos; and Forensic Investigations and Criminal Intelligence Course at the University of Lagos, among others.
He is a member of several local and international professional bodies, including the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM), the International Institute of Certified Forensics Investigation Professionals, the International Academy of Forensics, and the National Association of Investigative Specialists (NAIS), United States.
Beyond policing, AIG Disu is also a distinguished sportsman. On July 31, 2022, he won a silver medal at the 33rd U.S. Open Judo Championship, competing in the under 100kg category of the veteran division. He is a Third Dan Black Belt in Judo and has won numerous medals. Since taking up judo in 1986, he has won a gold medal at the National Sports Festival (Bauchi, 1990), two gold medals at the Nigeria Police Games, and a silver medal at the Armed Forces and Police Games. In November 2021, he won another gold medal at the inaugural Veteran Championship organised by the Nigeria Police. He is a former Chairman of the Lagos State Judo Association and currently serves as Patron of the Nigeria Police Judo Association.
It is also noteworthy that during his tenure as Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, Disu’s achievements were particularly significant. He led a decisive crackdown on kidnappers and cultists, including those responsible for the killing of a Divisional Police Officer in late 2023. His people-friendly policing strategy yielded measurable improvements in security and public confidence in the state.
Now serving as Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of the Special Protection Unit (SPU) at the Force Headquarters, Disu is expected to bring the same level of commitment and professionalism to his new role, which involves providing protection for high-net-worth individuals and other designated personalities. One can only wish him greater successes in his current position and in future endeavours.
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