Nigeria Police Celebrate Ezekiel Nathaniel After Historic Commonwealth Games Gold Triumph

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has celebrated Corporal Ezekiel Nathaniel following his outstanding victory in the men’s 400 metres hurdles at the ongoing Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Nathaniel delivered an impressive performance in Friday night’s final, clocking 48.47 seconds to claim the gold medal and add another title to Team Nigeria’s medal haul. The victory represents a remarkable turnaround for the athlete, who finished sixth in the same event at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Reacting to the achievement, Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Riliwan Disu, congratulated the officer for bringing honour to both the Nigeria Police Force and the country through his success on the international stage.

In a statement, the police chief described Nathaniel’s triumph as an inspiration to officers nationwide and a demonstration of the excellence the Force seeks to promote.

“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Riliwan Disu, PSC (+), NPM, commends Corporal Ezekiel Nathaniel for proudly representing both the Nigeria Police Force and the nation on the global stage. His achievement is a shining example of dedication and excellence for officers across the country,” the statement said.

The Police leadership also said the athlete’s success underscores the impact of the Force’s continued investment in sports development, personnel welfare and talent cultivation.

According to the NPF, Nathaniel’s accomplishment reflects its commitment to discovering, nurturing and supporting gifted athletes within the organisation while encouraging officers to pursue excellence beyond their regular duties.

The Force further noted that sports remain an essential component of physical fitness, morale building and positive youth engagement.

It reaffirmed its resolve to strengthen its sports development programmes and continue creating opportunities for talented officers to compete and excel at major international competitions.