Police Boss Disu Advises Officers to Uphold Civility and Professionalism Towards Nigerians

Inspector-General of Police (IG), Tunji Disu, has urged officers of the Nigeria Police Force to conduct themselves with civility and professionalism when interacting with the public. He underscored that citizens are essentially the 'bosses' of the police.

Disu conveyed this directive on Saturday during a visit to the Lagos State Governor’s Office Correspondents (LAGOCO) at Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos. Prior to this engagement, the IG had addressed officers of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) at their base, which is located adjacent to the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, where the journalists work.

Speaking at the press centre, the police chief emphasized that the success of policing operations hinges significantly on the cooperation and confidence of the general public.

"I have impressed upon the officers that they must not tarnish the reputation of the Rapid Response Squad," Disu stated. "They are obligated to treat members of the public as their employers, given that their salaries are funded by taxpayer money. Furthermore, they should perceive the populace as collaborators, as policing cannot achieve its goals without community involvement."

The IG, who previously served as the commander of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in Lagos, reminisced about his close working relationship with journalists covering the Lagos State Government, noting that their offices were situated in the same vicinity as his.

"I am delighted to be back here and to reconnect with familiar faces. We collaborated effectively as a unit during my tenure here. Your backing and assistance at that time were invaluable to us," he remarked.

Disu elaborated that his visit to Lagos was part of his ongoing engagements with critical stakeholders. These included discussions with the Commissioner of Police, the Assistant Inspector-General, the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the officers of the RRS.

He stressed the importance of re-establishing connections with both police personnel and long-standing partners, including the press, while simultaneously reinforcing the principles of discipline, professionalism, and respect for human rights within the Force.

In his response, the Chairman of the Lagos State Governor’s Office Correspondence, LAGOCO, George Okojie, commended the IG for his enduring relationship with journalists and his commitment to a people-centered approach to law enforcement.

Okojie characterized Disu as a leader who has consistently displayed humility and accessibility, recalling his tenure as RRS commander when he maintained strong ties with journalists and offered them professional and personal support.

"We are confident that the Nigerian Police is under capable leadership. His leadership style instills hope for continued advancements in policing within Nigeria," Okojie added.