Rewriting the Police Narrative: IGP Disu’s Fight to Restore Trust and Discipline

By Evelyn Usman

For decades, the Nigeria Police Force has been weighed down by public distrust, accusations of brutality, corruption, and institutional decay. To many Nigerians, the police uniform has often represented fear as much as protection. However, inside the Force Headquarters in Abuja, Vanguard Deputy Crime Editor Evelyn Usman reports that a different narrative is emerging.

Since taking office as the 23rd Inspector‑General of Police two months ago, IGP Olatunji Disu has launched what appears to be one of the most vigorous attempts in recent years to reshape the operational culture, internal accountability system, and public image of the Nigeria Police Force.

From large‑scale arrests of violent criminals and tactical restructuring to welfare interventions, disciplinary actions, and institutional reforms, Disu’s leadership is sending a clear message: policing in Nigeria can no longer continue as usual.

Yet, the task before him is immense. The Nigeria Police Force is not only confronting criminals; it is also addressing years of eroded public confidence, internal indiscipline, welfare crises, and growing demands for professionalism in a rapidly changing security environment.

Fighting crime with intelligence, not noise

The core of the current police strategy is a major shift toward intelligence‑led policing.

Unlike the old reactive style, often criticised for arriving after damage has been done, the Force under Disu is increasingly focusing on coordinated intelligence gathering, surveillance, and targeted operations.

The results released by the Police for April 2026 illustrate a Force attempting to regain operational momentum.

Within one month, police operatives arrested 280 suspects across different parts of the country. A breakdown showed 28 suspected terrorists, 85 kidnapping suspects, 62 armed robbery suspects, 51 murder suspects, and 54 suspected cultists.

During the same operations, 189 kidnapped victims were rescued alive from criminal hideouts, while 140 firearms, 1,074 rounds of ammunition, and 37 stolen vehicles were recovered.

Repatriation of Chinese fugitive, financial crime breakthroughs

Behind the statistics lies a clear strategy: restore public confidence by improving operational visibility and effectiveness.

The Force’s renewed focus on anti‑kidnapping operations, financial crimes, and transnational criminal networks also signals an effort to modernise policing beyond conventional street patrols.

This was evident in the Police Special Fraud Unit’s exposure of a 713.9 million‑naira banking fraud syndicate and the INTERPOL‑led arrest and repatriation of a Chinese fugitive linked to a 245 million‑dollar Ponzi scheme in April.

For a police institution often criticised as outdated and reactive, these operations project a Force attempting to become smarter, faster, and more technologically driven, a senior police officer said.

Killing in Delta and the test of credibility

Perhaps the defining moment of IGP Disu’s leadership so far did not come from a successful operation but from a killing.

When Mr. Mene Ogidi was shot dead by a policeman in Effurun, Delta State, two weeks ago, many Nigerians feared the case would follow a familiar pattern: public outrage, official silence, and eventual disappearance from public attention. That expectation was shaped by years of unresolved allegations involving police brutality and extrajudicial killings.

Instead, the response from the police hierarchy was swift. The officers involved were immediately withdrawn from Delta State and transferred to Abuja on the order of IGP Disu, where internal disciplinary proceedings began without delay.

The findings were damning. According to the Force Disciplinary Committee, ASP Nuhu Usman acted “in gross violation of Force Order 237 regulating the use of firearms.” The committee recommended dismissal and prosecution of the officers involved, recommendations which were approved by the Inspector‑General and forwarded to the Police Service Commission.

For many observers, the significance went beyond the punishment itself. The police leadership publicly acknowledged wrongdoing. Disu described the shooting as unlawful, unprofessional, and inconsistent with the values of the Nigeria Police Force.

In a system where institutional protection has often outweighed accountability, the handling of the Delta incident appeared, to many Nigerians, to mark an important shift, one aimed at reinforcing the principle that uniforms do not place officers above the law.

Whether this momentum will be sustained remains uncertain, but the message was unmistakable.

Rebuilding trust through transparency

Trust remains one of the toughest challenges facing the current police leadership. Years of abuse allegations, extortion scandals, and strained citizen–police relations have created deep public suspicion toward the institution.

Disu appears aware of this reality. During an emergency conference with Commissioners of Police and journalists at Force Headquarters, the Inspector‑General declared transparency and accountability as non‑negotiable pillars of his administration.

He stated: “Transparency is the foundation of the new Nigeria Police Force I am committed to building. I have nothing to hide, and neither should any officer under my command.” He added that accountability within the Force would continue to be pursued decisively, particularly in matters relating to misconduct, abuse of office, and violations of professional standards.

Nationwide audit of arms and ammunition

The statement was more than rhetoric. One of the boldest internal reforms announced by the Force was the nationwide audit of police arms and ammunition.

For years, concerns have persisted over missing weapons, weak inventory systems, and allegations that firearms sometimes leak from security formations into criminal hands.

To address this, IGP Disu directed all Commissioners of Police nationwide to immediately commence a comprehensive audit of arms and ammunition within their respective commands and formations.

The exercise is not merely administrative; it is designed to confront one of the Force’s most sensitive institutional weaknesses, internal accountability, prevention of misuse of police assets, and enhancement of operational readiness, according to Disu.

Establishment of the VCRU

The creation of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) also reflects this reform direction.

Unlike previous tactical formations often accused of excesses, the VCRU is being designed around intelligence‑based deployment. It is structured to enhance the Force’s response to serious and violent crimes.

Speaking during an emergency