‘Kill Him’, IGP Disu Recounts Father’s Plea After Son’s Arrest

Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, has recounted how a retired soldier once asked him to kill his university-student son after the young man was arrested for alleged cultism, only to return the following morning with food for him.

Disu said the incident occurred while he was serving as a Divisional Police Officer in Ago Iwoye, Ogun State, and highlighted the conflicting emotions parents can experience when dealing with the misconduct of their children.

The IGP shared the experience on Thursday at the National Youth Leadership and Security Dialogue organised by the Nigeria Police Force at the Police Resource Centre, Jabi, Abuja. A video of his remarks circulated on social media on Saturday.

The three-day event, held from Thursday to Saturday to mark International Youth Day 2026, focused on youth leadership, security, responsibility and the need to discourage violence and thuggery.

READ ALSO: IGP Disu Deploys AIG Morris to Plateau After Bin’per Attack

According to Disu, the retired soldier visited his office after his son was arrested for cultism and initially expressed satisfaction over the arrest.

He said the man then made an unusual request, asking the police to kill his son because he did not want him back home.

“And he said, DPO, where is the boy? I said, he’s detained. He said, very good. I want you to help me to kill him.

“Kill him! That was what he said. That you must kill him. He doesn’t want him at home,” Disu recalled.

The retired soldier reportedly remained in the police office from morning until almost night, insisting that the police should deal with his son.

Disu said he eventually asked the man to return home, assuring him that the police would handle the matter.

However, the retired soldier’s attitude changed the following morning.

“And he left. 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,” the IGP said.

Disu said he deliberately delayed seeing the man until later in the day, despite his repeated calls requesting an audience.

When he eventually met with him, the retired soldier explained that he had returned to deliver food to his detained son.

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

The police chief used the experience to underscore the importance of parental responsibility, discipline and proper upbringing in shaping young people.

He noted that while parents may become angry with their children’s actions, their concern for their welfare often remains strong.

Disu had previously recounted the same experience in a March 2025 reflection titled The First Lawmakers: My Reflection on Home, Discipline, and Duty, when he was Commissioner of Police in the Federal Capital Territory.

According to his earlier account, the young man eventually completed his education, got married and became a father himself.