“State police has come to stay,” Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu declared yesterday at the State House in Abuja.
His disposition on the idea is a departure from that of other Inspectors-General before him, including the immediate-past Kayode Egbetokun.
Even when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and governors had agreed that state police is the way to go in combating internal insecurity, Egbetokun opposed the proposal.
But all of that changed yesterday as the 23rd IG began his tenure.
Disu, whose appointment by the President was confirmed by the Police Council on Monday, took the oath of office and allegiance before President Tinubu at the Council Chambers of Aso Villa shortly before the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.
Disu thereafter inaugurated an eight-man team to prepare a position paper within four weeks on how the state police would work.
He did this during his first meeting with the top brass of the police – his first after being sworn in.
Deputy Inspectors-General and others attended the meeting, as well as members of the panel led by the Director-General of the National Institute for Police Studies, Jabi, Abuja, Prof. Olu Ogunsakin.
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Other members are: CP Bode Ojajuni (Secretary), DCP Okebechi Agora, DCP Suleyman Gulma, ACP Ikechukwu Okafor, CSP Tolulope Ipinmisho and Provost of the Police Public Relations School, retired CP Emmanuel Ojukwu.
On state police, the IG said: “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 stressed that decentralising certain responsibilities would allow state governments and local authorities to tackle grassroots security challenges, while the federal police concentrate on complex crimes such as terrorism, organised crime, cybercrime and trafficking networks.
“The vision we seek is one of synergy, not competition; partnership, not duplication,” Disu added.
He assured officers that the Nigeria Police Force would remain the primary national law enforcement institution.
Beyond the state police debate, the IGP outlined a sweeping reform agenda anchored on intelligence-led and technology-driven policing.
He assured Nigerians that security agencies are proactively monitoring potential threats arising from global tensions and domestic developments, including possible protests linked to international events.
Disu said: “Our ears are to the ground. We are putting all necessary actions in place.”
He emphasised that under his leadership, the Force would recommit to public accountability and professionalism.
“We are working for the people of Nigeria. The citizens are our bosses,” he said.
At the inaugural conference with strategic police managers, Disu adopted a tough stance on discipline.
He warned that misconduct would attract severe sanctions, including dismissal and prosecution.
Disu said: “The Nigeria Police Force exists to serve the people, protect the nation, and uphold the rule of law.
“Under my leadership, professionalism, accountability, and transparency shall not be slogans; they shall be standards.
“Misconduct, abuse of power, corruption, extortion, unlawful arrest or detention, no matter how isolated, betrays confidence and dishonours the uniform.
“Let me be unambiguous: such conduct will not be tolerated. Senior officers must lead by example, enforce discipline, and uphold the highest ethical standards at all times.
“While the uniform confers lawful power, it is our conduct, our words, actions, and decisions that ultimately confer legitimacy.
“Respect for human rights is, therefore, not optional; it is fundamental to professional policing and central to sustaining public trust.
“The Nigeria Police Force is, first and foremost, the people’s police, and our continued relevance depends on the confidence the public places in us.
“Every Nigerian, irrespective of status, belief, or background, must be treated with dignity, fairness, and respect.
“Any conduct that undermines these principles weakens public confidence, erodes institutional legitimacy, and will not be condoned under this leadership.
“The Force Provost, the Complaints Response Unit, and the X-Squad will be empowered to operate decisively, independently, and without fear or favour in the investigation of misconduct, abuse of authority, corruption, or unprofessional conduct. The message must be clear: no officer is above the law.
“Citizens must feel safe and encouraged to report wrongdoing, while officers must understand that loyalty to the Force does not extend to shielding misconduct or tolerating indiscipline.
“Under this leadership, there will be no sacred cows. Rank, seniority, or position will offer no protection.
“Officers found culpable will face swift and appropriate disciplinary action, including dismissal and prosecution where applicable.
“This administration will act firmly, fairly, and transparently to deter misconduct, reinforce discipline, and restore public trust in the Nigeria Police Force.
“Beyond entry-level training, we shall place strong emphasis on continuous professional development, specialised skills acquisition, and periodic retraining to ensure that our officers remain effective, confident, and professional in the discharge of their duties.
“Policing cannot succeed in isolation from the communities we serve. I will insist on the full and practical implementation of community policing across all commands and formations.
“Commissioners of Police must prioritise sustained engagement with traditional institutions, community leaders, youth groups, and civil society.
“The Nigeria Police Force remains the lead agency in the internal security management of our nation, and preserving as well as strengthening this primacy is a responsibility we must pursue with clarity of purpose, strategic focus, and institutional discipline.
“As we approach the 2027 General Elections, our responsibility to the nation becomes both heightened and non-negotiable.
“The credibility of the electoral process, the stability of our democracy, and the confidence of the Nigerian people will depend largely on the conduct of the Nigeria Police Force as the lead agency in election security management.
“In the discharge of this duty, the Police must be firm in enforcing the law, impartial in its decisions, professional in its conduct, and strictly neutral in all electoral engagements.
“We will secure the electoral process before, during, and after the elections. I assure Mr. President and all Nigerians that I will discharge this responsibility with diligence, integrity, courage, and an unyielding commitment to national security.”
Recalling that 140 policemen were lost in a single year during his tenure as Commissioner of Police in the Federal Capital Territory, Disu described policing as a high-risk job that demands adequate motivation.
“It is somebody who is well motivated who will put in their best,” he said.
The IG pledged improvements in housing, healthcare, remuneration and overall well-being.
Disu’s early days in office signal what security observers describe as a defining shift that could reshape Nigeria’s policing structure if he matches talk with action.
