The Inspector-General of Nigeria’s Police Force, Olatunji Disu, has ordered a massive re-organisation of the country’s security leadership, affecting dozens of senior officers across several states and specialized departments.

The sweeping changes, announced on Tuesday, see new Assistant Inspectors-General (AIGs) and Commissioners of Police (CPs) deployed to key strategic zones, including Lagos, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and regions currently battling intense security challenges in the north.

IGP Disu said the move was part of a “relentless effort” to strengthen operational efficiency and improve service delivery as the force confronts a diverse array of security threats, from highway kidnapping to urban crime.

Strategic shifts in the North and Lagos

In a significant move for the country’s restive northeast, AIG Dahiru Mohammed has been posted to Zone 15 in Maiduguri, an area central to the ongoing counter-insurgency operations against Boko Haram and ISWAP.

The nation’s commercial hub, Lagos, and the capital, Abuja, also see fresh leadership:

• CP Olatunji Fatai takes charge of the Lagos State Command.
• CP Muhammed Sanusi Ahmed has been deployed to lead the Federal Capital Territory Command.
• AIG Olohundare Jimoh will oversee Zone 2 in Lagos.

Technical and Specialist Postings

Beyond regional commands, the shake-up extends into the force’s technical and administrative “engine room.” Notable postings include new heads for INTERPOL Abuja, the Special Fraud Unit in Lagos, and the Force Intelligence Department.

Significantly, CP Preye Egbe has been posted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja, a role often seen as critical for coordinating security during off-cycle elections and maintaining the integrity of the democratic process.

Analysis: A ‘new broom’ approach?

Since his appointment, IGP Disu has emphasized a more “data-driven” and professional approach to policing. Analysts suggest this latest mass deployment is an attempt to break up entrenched interests at the local level and inject new energy into commands that have struggled with rising crime rates.

“The IGP charges the officers to bring their wealth of experience to bear,” a police spokesperson said, adding that the new commanders are expected to uphold the “highest standards of professionalism and discipline.”

The challenge for the incoming commanders remains steep. They inherit a force that is often stretched thin, operating in an environment of high economic inflation and persistent communal tensions across several of Nigeria’s 36 states.