A peaceful protest staged by retired police officers in Abuja demanding improved pensions and welfare packages has taken a twist, with the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, raising concerns over an alleged plot to hijack the movement.
The retirees, who have remained calm and orderly during the demonstration, have refused to accept refreshments from officials and continue to demand a face-to-face meeting with the IGP to discuss their grievances. However, police authorities now claim that the protest may be at risk of being manipulated by external actors.
According to Chronicles Reporters, the protest has, so far, remained peaceful and without incident at the time of filing this report.
In a statement released via the official X (formerly Twitter) account of the Nigeria Police Force, the IGP assured the retirees that their concerns would be addressed directly by him.
“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has expressed his willingness to personally engage with the retired police officers currently protesting over their retirement benefits,” the statement read.
The police further explained that this commitment was relayed through the Commissioner of Police in charge of the FCT Command, who assured the retirees that arrangements were in place for a meeting to be held at the Peacekeeping Hall within the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
Despite these assurances, the police hierarchy raised fresh concerns, alleging that certain individuals were trying to derail the protest for their personal gain.
“The peaceful nature of the protest is being threatened by elements with ulterior motives who are working to hijack the movement,” the statement added.
“These individuals are discouraging the retirees from embracing the dialogue option and are instead inciting confrontation and disorder.”
The statement went on to urge genuine stakeholders among the retired officers to remain calm and cooperative while assuring them that steps were being taken to resolve the matter.
“The Nigeria Police Force urges all genuine stakeholders among the retirees to remain calm, law-abiding, and supportive of the peaceful resolution process that is already in motion.
“The IGP is dedicated to a constructive engagement that will address their legitimate demands with dignity and respect.”
In spite of these warnings from the police, the protesters insist on meeting directly with the IGP, accusing the authorities of abandoning them after years of dedicated service.
Earlier during the protest, the retirees rejected water and drinks offered by the police, chanting slogans such as: “We do not want, we do not want.”
One of the protesting officers remarked, “We’re not hungry to the point of accepting drinks as a bribe. All we want is our pension rights. We want justice, not refreshments.”
Another retiree said, “We served this country with everything we had. This is not about water or drinks. We are not here for leisure.”
Their agitation stems from the paltry pension packages received after long years in service. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Shuaibu, one of the affected officers, revealed that he was offered only N1.6 million after serving for 35 years in the police force.
“I gave the Nigerian Police 35 years of my life, and after retirement, I was handed N1.6 million. That’s not compensation, it’s an insult,” he said.
“I turned down the offer because I cannot survive on that amount. It is not enough to start anything.”
In a similar account, Superintendent of Police (SP) Agadasu, who retired on March 1, 2016, said he was given just N1.7 million.
“After retirement, they offered me N1.7 million. How do they expect me to live on that? I now regret spending my entire career in the police,” he lamented.
He went on to explain that many of his former colleagues are either deceased or too ill and impoverished to join the protest.
“Most of our colleagues are no longer alive. Some are sick, others can’t even afford transport to get here,” he said.
Agadasu also shared the personal toll the ordeal has taken on his family, revealing that his son chose not to pursue a career in the police because of how his father was treated after retirement.
“My son saw everything I went through and decided never to join the police. He believes he’d face the same suffering,” he added.
As of the time of compiling this report, the IGP had yet to appear before the protesting retirees, despite their continued calls for dialogue.
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