Six Months of IGP Disu: CAIDOV Hails Shift to Proactive, Community-Centred Policing
The Centre Against Injustice and Domestic Violence (CAIDOV) has commended the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, for what it described as a proactive approach to policing in his first six months in office.
Disu assumed office in February 2026 as the 23rd indigenous Inspector-General of Police. His appointment was subsequently ratified by the Nigeria Police Council.
In a statement, CAIDOV said the IGP’s first 180 days had been characterised by intelligence-led operations, efforts to improve officers’ welfare and increased emphasis on community engagement.
The organisation said the emerging approach represented a shift from predominantly reactive policing towards prevention, intelligence gathering and faster operational response.
According to CAIDOV, the deployment of drones, surveillance technology and improved intelligence-sharing with other security agencies had strengthened efforts to identify and disrupt criminal networks.
The group also pointed to the IGP’s emphasis on inter-agency and inter-state coordination. In June, the Nigeria Police Force announced the deployment of Deputy Inspectors-General of Police to the six geopolitical zones and directed the commencement of inter-state patrols to improve security coordination and operational effectiveness.
CAIDOV’s Executive Director, Gbenga Soloki, said in the statement that the organisation’s assessment of the IGP’s first six months showed a leadership approach centred on equipment, personnel and community relations.
“IGP Disu’s blueprint is simple: equip the troops, engage the people, and enforce accountability,” Soloki said.
According to him, “the early results show a Police Force that is listening more, responding faster, and policing with the people.”
CAIDOV also highlighted personnel welfare as one of the areas it believes has received attention under Disu.
The organisation cited improvements in operational support, including patrol vehicles and communication equipment, as well as attention to officers’ career progression and welfare.
The Police Force announced in May that Disu had approved the promotion of 17,952 junior police officers nationwide, describing the exercise as part of efforts to improve morale, recognise diligence and strengthen institutional capacity.
At a subsequent decoration ceremony in July, Disu told newly promoted senior officers that their elevation represented greater responsibility and urged them to maintain professionalism, discipline and commitment to service.
CAIDOV said that regular engagement with officers in frontline formations could also contribute to improving morale and operational effectiveness.
The organisation further commended the emphasis on what it described as “Citizen First” policing, saying public confidence remained essential to effective law enforcement.
According to CAIDOV, efforts to strengthen complaint-response mechanisms, address inappropriate checkpoints and engage communities through town-hall meetings could help rebuild trust between police officers and citizens.
The organisation said policing should not be measured only by arrests or security operations but also by how safely and respectfully citizens interact with law-enforcement agencies.
It noted that Disu’s stated commitment to protecting lives and property was central to his maiden address after assuming office.
In his February speech, Disu said he was committed to ensuring the protection of the lives and property of law-abiding citizens and residents across the country.
President Bola Tinubu, while decorating Disu as Acting IGP in February, also charged him to restore peace and strengthen security nationwide, saying he had confidence in Disu’s record and experience.
Beyond conventional policing, Disu’s administration has also begun engaging with broader questions surrounding Nigeria’s security architecture.
In March, the IGP inaugurated a committee on state policing, describing the assignment as “significant and timely” and calling for innovative approaches to the country’s evolving security challenges.
The Police Force also held a strategic leadership retreat for senior officers in March as part of its reform efforts, with discussions focusing on institutional transformation, accountability and responsive policing.
CAIDOV said that such initiatives should be sustained, particularly as Nigeria continues to confront kidnapping, cult-related violence, banditry and other security challenges.
Soloki said the organisation was encouraged by the direction of the Police Force but urged the leadership to maintain momentum.
“Equip the troops, engage the people, and enforce accountability,” he reiterated, stressing that effective policing required both operational capacity and public cooperation.
He added that reforms should be accompanied by continuous training, stronger community partnerships and transparent accountability mechanisms.
CAIDOV therefore called on the IGP to consolidate the gains of his first six months and ensure that reforms introduced at the leadership level translate into improved policing at the command and divisional levels.
The organisation also urged citizens to cooperate with law-enforcement agencies by providing useful information while demanding professionalism and respect for their rights.
“As policing evolves, the people must remain at the centre,” CAIDOV said, adding that sustained community partnership would be critical to building a more responsive and trusted police institution.
The assessment comes six months into Disu’s tenure, a period that has seen the Police Force pursue greater operational coordination, personnel development, technology-driven policing and discussions around state policing.
While CAIDOV acknowledged that six months was still an early period for judging the long-term impact of reforms, it said the direction of the IGP’s leadership offered grounds for continued engagement and scrutiny.
For the organisation, the next phase should be about sustaining the momentum, measuring results and ensuring that the promise of proactive, accountable and citizen-focused policing is reflected in the everyday experience of Nigerians.
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