The Nigeria Police Force has celebrated one of its officers, Corporal Ezekiel Nathaniel, following his historic triumph in the men’s 400 metres hurdles at the ongoing Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, describing the feat as a testament to discipline, resilience and the Force’s renewed investment in sports development.
This is according to a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, on Saturday.
Nathaniel stormed to victory on Friday night, producing a dominant performance to win the gold medal in 48.47 seconds and emerge Commonwealth champion.
His victory marked a dramatic turnaround from the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, where he finished sixth, highlighting what the Police described as his “grit, tactical discipline and relentless determination.”
Reacting to the achievement, the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Riliwan Disu, praised the athlete for bringing honour to both Nigeria and the Nigeria Police Force on the global stage.
“The Inspector-General of Police commends Corporal Nathaniel for flying both the national and Force flags high on the international stage, noting that his performance serves as an example of excellence to officers across all commands,” the Force said in a statement issued on Saturday.
The Police leadership attributed the gold medal to sustained institutional support for sports within the Force, saying Nathaniel’s success reflects the implementation of the IGP’s strategic agenda on police sports development, personnel welfare and capacity building.
According to the statement, the Force has continued to prioritise the identification, nurturing and support of talented athletes within its ranks, maintaining that sports remain a critical tool for improving tactical fitness, boosting morale and engaging Nigerian youths positively.
Congratulating the Commonwealth champion on behalf of the Force Management, officers and personnel, the IGP wished Nathaniel greater success in his athletics career while reaffirming the Police’s commitment to supporting sporting excellence among its officers.
