Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed appreciation to the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, for the role he played during the period he was placed under house arrest in 1995.
Obasanjo made the remarks during an interview with News Central, where he reflected on the difficult period he faced under military rule after he was detained during the regime of late Head of State, Sani Abacha.
The former president said several individuals stood by him during that period and helped ensure his safety despite the tense circumstances.
Among those he mentioned was the current Inspector-General of Police, whom he credited as one of the people who contributed to keeping him alive while he was under house arrest.
He described the experience as one of the most challenging moments of his life and said he has not forgotten those who supported him during that time.
According to Obasanjo, it was important to publicly acknowledge such efforts, noting that those who stand by others in difficult moments deserve to be remembered.
He said, “Current IGP, I have to in a special way acknowledge you because maybe the reason I am alive today is because you are one of those who kept me alive when I was under house arrest.”
Beyond the appreciation, Obasanjo also addressed Nigeria’s current security challenges and renewed his support for the creation of state police.
He said policing at the state level would enable officers to better understand local environments and respond more quickly to emerging threats.
According to him, such a structure would help tackle criminal activities early before they escalate into wider security crises.
Obasanjo maintained that Nigeria must adopt practical measures to confront insecurity and insisted that state police remains one of the options capable of strengthening law enforcement across the country.
The call for state police has remained a recurring national debate, with supporters arguing it would improve local security response, while opponents have raised concerns over possible political misuse by state governments.
