Inspector-General Disu Bans Beards For Nigerian Policemen, Warns Officers Of Severe Punishment

An internal directive within the Nigeria Police Force has sparked concern and debate after officers were ordered to remain completely beardless, regardless of medical or personal reasons.

In a police wireless message dated April 15, 2026, and marked “Most Immediate,” authorities in the Cross River State Command conveyed a strict order allegedly stemming from the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu.

The message, issued by the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of X-Squad, was addressed to divisional police officers, tactical commanders, and other senior officers across the command.

According to the directive, “the only authority to permit the wearing of beards is the Inspector-General of Police,” stressing that this applies “irrespective of medical excuse or not.”

The order further mandates that all serving officers of the Nigeria Police Force must remain clean-shaven at all times — both in uniform and when not in uniform.

“Failure to abide by this directive shall attract severe disciplinary measures,” the signal warned, instructing commanding officers to immediately brief their personnel and ensure strict compliance.

The development is expected to raise questions about personal rights, workplace regulations, and the extent of control within the force, particularly as the directive appears to override previously accepted medical exemptions.

While the police hierarchy has yet to publicly comment on the rationale behind the sweeping order, it may be part of a broader push to enforce discipline, uniformity, and standard appearance across the force.

The internal message reads in full: “DIRECTIVE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE X IGP OLATUNJI RILWAN DISU DURING THE RECENT ZOOM MEETING, HEREBY DIRECTS X AS FROM HENCEFORTH X THE ONLY AUTHORITY TO PERMIT THE WEARING OF BEARDS IS THE IGP X IRRESPECTIVE OF MEDICAL EXCUSE OR NOT X THEREFORE ALL SERVING POLICEMEN X OF THE NIGERIA POLICE FORCE X ARE TO REMAIN BEARDLESS X BOTH IN UNIFORM AND OUT.

“FAILURE TO ABIDE BY THIS DIRECTIVES SHALL ATTRACT SEVERE PUNISHMENT BY DISCIPLINARY MEASURES X YOU ARE TO KINDLY LECTURE MEN.”  (SaharaReporters)