We Are Not Afraid Of State Police – IGP Disu

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has disclosed that he is ready to work for the realization of State Police.

The new IGP also assured his men that their job is not in danger of being taken over by State Police.

Addressing State House correspondents after he was officially sworn in on Wednesday by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, at the Presidential Villa, Disu also vowed to tackle professionally the issue of protests in some part of the country over the situation in the Middle East.

He said, “We want to ensure that the best thing is done. State police has come to stay, and the police should be able to do their own part in making it succeed. The police are not afraid. Our jobs are not being taken. It’s just an issue of partnership.

“Everywhere in the world, we are aware that is, what we call intelligence policing. Our ears are to the ground. We know we have groups of people, different kinds of Islamic sects in Nigeria. We have those who pay allegiance to this eastern part of the world as well.

“So we know if anything happens in the eastern part of the world, the repercussion will come to us. So we are putting all necessary actions. You can see policemen on patrol, and most importantly, we are talking to them to ensure that they do not take laws and orders into their hands.”

On his approach, he said: “I made up my mind to ensure that my officers get to know that we are working for the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the citizens of the country are our bosses.”

Speaking on the committee he set up earlier on Wednesday morning to review state police, Disu explained: “We don’t want it to seem as if others are taking decisions, and we, the most important people concerned, did not do anything.

“It is somebody that is well motivated that will put in their best. Our jobs are very difficult. Some few years ago, when I was Commissioner of Police FCT, I was bold enough to announce that we lost 140 policemen just in a year. So the jobs are difficult. Men sleep out. A lot of people don’t have time to go back to their families.

“So the welfare is very vital, and I’m lucky to be working with a president who has made up his mind to give us whatever we want.”