This year’s Commonwealth Games men’s 400m hurdles gold medalist, Ezekiel Nathaniel has gained official recognition as the latest officer of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to bring honour to the country through competitive sports on the international terrain.
Sports247 reports that the formal recognition of Nathaniel’s lofty status came through a short but well-stated congratulatory message from Nigeria’s inspector-general of police, Olatunji Disu, who identified the athlete as a corporal in the NPF.
Disu’s recognition of the athlete’s rank, the first in recent years, places Nathaniel in an esteemed roll call of other iconic police officers who have excelled over the years (while some are still excelling) as sports heroes and heroines for the country.
The list is headed by Nigeria’s only individual gold medalist ever at the Olympic Games, Chioma Ajunwa, who won the women’s long jump at Atlanta ’96 and was earlier part of the country’s pioneer female football squad to the FIFA Women’s World Cup at China 1991.
Another female footballer who came through the police sports sector into the national team was Kikelomo Ajayi, while male footballers the NPF has produced for the country include Isaac Oyarekhua, Emmanuel Omiunu and Julius Aghahowa.
The police also produced another world class athlete who preceded Nathaniel, in the person of Sunday Bada, while other sports disciplines have provided Samuel Peter (boxing), Julie Ukah (mixed martial arts) and Dorcas Eworo (swimming).
Nathaniel’s feat at Glasgow 2026 has now placed him top of the list of contemporary police officers making Nigeria proud through sports, and IGP Disu highlighted the symbolic relevance of the athlete’s achievement.
While reacting to the victory, Disu stated that he was very happy seeing another officer show that the police force is not just about uniforms and strict public service but also allows personnel to exhibit their natural talents and bring glory to the country through sports.
The IGP added that Nathaniel’s achievement is a source of motivation to other officers in the police as well as young Nigerian sports talents all across the country, who will now be inspired to achieve similar feats.
He posited that Nathaniel has helped the NPF to open a new chapter for its officers who are ready to combine their duties as security personnel with aspirations towards achieving excellence in sports.
Disu stated further in his eulogies: “On behalf of the Nigeria Police Force, I congratulate Corporal Ezekiel Nathaniel on his historic gold medal win in the 400m hurdles at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
“You have shown the world that our officers excel both in service and in sport. The Nigeria Police Force is proud of you and celebrates this outstanding achievement, which has brought honour to the Force and to our great nation.”
