The newly appointed Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has declared that the establishment of state police in Nigeria is inevitable, marking a significant shift in the leadership stance of the Nigeria Police Force on the long-debated security reform.
Disu made the statement on Wednesday shortly after taking the oath of office and allegiance before President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the State House in Abuja.
His position represents a departure from that of previous police chiefs, including the immediate past Inspector-General, Kayode Egbetokun, who had opposed the idea despite growing support from the President and state governors.
Following his inauguration as the 23rd Inspector-General of Police, Disu constituted an eight-member committee to prepare a comprehensive framework on how state policing would operate in Nigeria.
The panel has been given four weeks to submit a position paper.
The committee is chaired by the Director-General of the National Institute for Police Studies, Prof. Olu Ogunsakin, with CP Bode Ojajuni serving as secretary.
Other members include DCP Okebechi Agora, DCP Suleyman Gulma, ACP Ikechukwu Okafor, CSP Tolulope Ipinmisho, and retired CP Emmanuel Ojukwu, Provost of the Police Public Relations School.
Speaking during his first strategic meeting with senior police officers after assuming office, Disu said properly structured state policing would strengthen security at the grassroots.
“If properly designed and implemented, state policing will bring law enforcement closer to the people, enhance local knowledge of security dynamics and enable quicker responses to emerging threats,” he said.
According to him, decentralising certain responsibilities will allow state and local authorities to tackle community-level security challenges, while the federal police focus on more complex crimes such as terrorism, organised crime, cybercrime and trafficking networks.
He emphasised that the reform would be based on collaboration rather than competition between federal and state security structures.
The vision we seek is one of synergy, not competition; partnership, not duplication,the police chief added.
Beyond the debate over state policing, Disu also outlined a sweeping reform agenda centred on intelligence-led and technology-driven policing.
He issued a strong warning against misconduct within the force, stating that offences such as corruption, extortion, unlawful arrests, abuse of power and human rights violations would attract severe punishment.
“Misconduct, abuse of power, corruption, extortion or unlawful detention dishonours the uniform and betrays public trust. Such conduct will not be tolerated,” he said.
Disu stressed that disciplinary mechanisms within the police, including the Force Provost, Complaints Response Unit and X-Squad, would be strengthened to investigate and punish erring officers.
He declared that under his leadership “no officer is above the law,” adding that rank or seniority would not shield any officer from sanctions.
The police chief also directed commissioners of police nationwide to intensify community policing initiatives, urging them to strengthen engagement with traditional rulers, youth groups, civil society organisations and community leaders.
Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, Disu assured Nigerians that the police would remain neutral and professional in managing election security.
“The credibility of the electoral process and the stability of our democracy will depend largely on the conduct of the Nigeria Police Force,” he said.
Acknowledging the risks associated with policing, Disu highlighted the need to improve the welfare of officers, recalling that 140 policemen were lost within a single year during his tenure as Commissioner of Police in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He pledged reforms aimed at improving housing, healthcare, remuneration and general well-being of personnel.
Security analysts say Disu’s early declarations signal a potentially transformational shift in Nigeria’s policing structure, particularly if the push for state police gains legislative backing and is effectively implemented.
