IG Disu Reveals Father's Conflicted Reaction to Son's Cultism Arrest

Nigeria's Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, recently shared a striking anecdote about a retired military officer who, after his university-aged son was apprehended for cult-related activities, initially insisted the police terminate his son's life, but then reappeared the next day bearing a meal for the detained youth.

According to Disu, this incident, which took place during his tenure as a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Ago Iwoye, Ogun State, perfectly encapsulated the complex emotional landscape of parenthood and underscored the vital role families play in nurturing and disciplining their offspring.

The IGP made these remarks on Thursday during the National Youth Leadership and Security Dialogue, an event hosted by the Nigeria Police Force at the Police Resource Centre in Jabi, Abuja. A video snippet of Disu's address subsequently gained significant traction online, going viral by Saturday.

This three-day dialogue, spanning Thursday through Saturday, was convened in commemoration of International Youth Day 2026. Its agenda focused on critical themes such as youth leadership, national security, civic responsibility, and strategies to combat violence and thuggery among young people.

Detailing the event, Disu explained that the former soldier had burst into his office following his university student son's arrest for cultism, explicitly demanding the police to put him to death. The IGP recalled the man inquiring about his son's whereabouts. Upon learning of his detention, the father reportedly expressed approval before issuing his startling request.

Disu quoted the father saying, “DPO, where is the boy?” To which he responded, “He’s detained.” The father then declared, “Very good. I want you to help me to kill him.” The IGP emphasized the man's words: “Kill him! That was what he said. That you must kill him. He doesn’t want him at home.”

The Inspector-General further recounted that the man stayed in his office for most of the day, from morning till nearly nightfall, unwavering in his insistence that the police should execute his son. Eventually, Disu advised the retired soldier to go home, assuring him that the police would assist in managing his son's situation.

“And he left,” Disu narrated. “The following morning, very early in the morning, he started calling me. He has brought food for his son. He brought food for his son.”

Disu revealed that he intentionally postponed seeing the man until the afternoon, by which time the ex-soldier had grown increasingly anxious, making multiple calls to arrange a meeting. When finally granted access to Disu's office, the father explained his purpose: he had brought a meal for his son who was in custody.

Reflecting on the situation, Disu remarked, “What if I’ve killed this boy since yesterday? That is a parent for you.”

It's worth noting that the IGP had shared this identical experience earlier, in March 2025, within a reflective piece titled 'The First Lawmakers: My Reflection on Home, Discipline, and Duty,' during his tenure as the Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory. In that earlier narration, he detailed how the retired soldier's initial fury ultimately transformed into profound concern for his son's wellbeing, presenting the episode as a clear illustration of the intricate and often contradictory aspects of parental feelings. Disu concluded by mentioning that the young man subsequently successfully finished his studies, got married, and eventually became a father himself.