The Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory, Tunji Disu, has called on parents to reclaim their role as the first enforcers of discipline in their children’s lives.
The police boss said law enforcement cannot replace parental guidance.
In a personal reflection posted on X (formerly Twitter), Disu stressed that law and order do not begin at the police station but at home.
“Society’s fabric is woven in your living rooms, at your dinner tables, in the quiet moments when you choose patience over fury, presence over absence,” he stated.
Citing multiple encounters with desperate parents seeking police intervention in raising their children, he recounted how some have demanded extreme measures. “I want you to detain my child,” some say.
Others go further: “Torture him.” He recalled an incident where a retired soldier insisted his university-aged son be executed for cultism, only to return the next day with food in hand, seeking his welfare.
“So you don’t want us to kill him again?” Disu had joked, observing how anger often masks helpless love.
The Commissioner pointed out that police cells are not rehabilitation centres, warning against the increasing trend of parents outsourcing discipline.
“The problem today isn’t a lack of discipline; it’s a lack of presence,” he said.
While he acknowledged that previous generations relied on stricter disciplinary methods, he noted that times have changed, and parenting must evolve with wisdom rather than simply harshness.
CP Disu reiterated that law enforcement remains committed to addressing criminal behaviour but cannot replace parental responsibility.
“When you hand us your child and say, ‘Fix them,’ you misunderstand our role. We enforce laws; we cannot replace love. We investigate crimes; we cannot teach values.”
In his concluding remarks, the commissioner urged parents to engage more actively with their children, emphasising the importance of balancing discipline with love.
“Discipline without love breeds resentment, but love without discipline breeds entitlement. Find the balance,” he advised.
The call serves as a wake-up reminder that shaping responsible citizens starts at home, long before law enforcement becomes involved.
Tunji Disu was formerly the commissioner of police in Rivers State before he was redeployed to the Federal Capital Territory. During his tenure in Rivers State, he received the prestigious “Best CP of the Year” award in 2024 at the inaugural Nigeria Police Awards and Commendation ceremony.
