By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
The appointment of Tunji Disu as the replacement for Intelligence Response Team boss, Abba Kyari, has elicited mixed reactions from members of Nigeria’s civil society.
Disu is a former commander of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in Lagos.
His stint while as RRS commander, elicited praise from many leaders of Nigeria’s civil society. Hence, the announcement by the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba Alkali that Disu’ would take over the job of fraud tainted Abba Kyari, was received with excitement. But others were cautious.
Executive director of the Rule of Law and Accountability, Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), Okechukwu Nwanguma, had written this on Disu in December last year when Disu was redeployed from Lagos. RRS..
Nwanguma had said at the time: “DCP Olatunji Disu: The true Super Cop
“DCP Olatunji Disu, immediate Commander of Lagos State Rapid Response Squad (RRS) Lagos State Police Command is the true Super Cop I can vouch for.
“His exit as Commander, RRS will leave a big gap which may be difficult to fill so soon. His professional disposition and his humane approach to Policing. His integrity. His effectiveness. His humility and sociable mien.
“RRS deals with serious crimes, the types that often demand or call for tough policing approaches that often result to collateral damage. But I cannot remember any case of brutality or extrajudicial Killing that was recorded against the RRS under Disu. I remember rapid response to distress calls and emergency situations. I remember instances when the RRS under Disu provided support and rendered social services to citizens in distress or in some other needs. Disu, as RRS Commander, was not only a law enforcement officer. He was also a social worker.
“No one I know who encountered Disu has told of any bad experience or left with negative memory.
“Disu is truly the Super Cop. He deserves all the accolades and all the awards and all the rewards due to a truly Super Cop for excellent performance and exemplary service.
“I wish DCP Disu rapid progress and growth in his remaining years in service. If man does not reward you, may God reward you..”
In a recent comment after Disu’s appointment as Abba Kyari’s replacement, Nwanguma believes that Disu will mitigate the brutality which the IRT has become known for. He, however, acknowledged that the Nigeria police is structured to make even an Angel fail to institute genuine reform.
Spaces for Change executive director, Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri, while reacting to Nwanguma’s post on Disu, said: “Okechukwu, with my ears filled with debris about Abba Kyari’s atrocities, I’ll be very slow to shower encomiums on any Nigerian police officer again. I’ll be very slow. The way the police institution is currently structured makes it harder for any officer to rise through the ranks without blemish. Lets just hope and pray Tunji Disu will be a better alternative to the darkness we are exiting from.”
One fact that has not been disputed about Disu is his professional approach to policing, something that Abba Kyari lacked dating back to when he was Lagos OC SARS