The Nigerian Police Force has remained tight-lipped over the detention of seven police officers reportedly arrested for mobilising support for the upcoming nationwide #PoliceProtest. Neither their families nor their legal representatives, including human rights advocate Omoyele Sowore and lawyer Barrister Ak Musa, have been informed of their location or condition.
Sowore revealed on Wednesday that he and Musa visited the Force Intelligence Department (FID) headquarters in Abuja after receiving intelligence regarding the whereabouts of the detained officers. However, the visit yielded no clarity. The building, shrouded in complete darkness, appeared deliberately kept that way, suggesting a calculated effort to obscure the truth.
Efforts to speak with officers present were met with vague and unhelpful responses.
According to Sowore, the affected officers are being punished for either expressing support or showing interest in the proposed police protest scheduled for July 21, 2025. What began as a small movement among retired officers has reportedly gained support from active-duty personnel, including high-ranking officersāraising alarm within police leadership.
In response to the growing momentum, several serving officers were detained under mysterious circumstances.
During their visit to FID, Sowore and Musa were informed that the officers had been transferred to face an “orderly room trial.” However, doubts about this explanation deepened when a senior Commissioner of Police, upon noticing their presence, quickly ordered subordinates to withhold information and then left the premises.
They also reached out to the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of the unit, AIG Aina. He claimed he lacked the authority to intervene and promised to share contact details of his superior, but failed to do so even after they left the facility.
Sowore condemned the detention as illegal and an infringement on the officers’ rights, stating that their only offence was advocating for justice, fairness, and improved welfare within the police system.
He confirmed, through inside sources, that the detained officers are in strong spirits and remain committed to the protest.
He pledged to continue the campaign for their release and reaffirmed that the July 21 #PoliceProtest would proceed as planned. According to him, the internal injustice in the police force is a threat to broader national justice.
“Earlier this evening, Barrister Ak Musa and I tried to trace the location of seven detained police officers reportedly brought to the Force Intelligence Department (FID) in Abuja. Acting on a reliable tip, we arrived at the FID office, only to find it completely engulfed in darknessāa strong indication that something was being deliberately hidden,” Sowore said.
“From our arrival, it was clear that the officers on duty had been instructed to avoid cooperation. Any question we asked about the detained officers was deflected or ignored. These officers were reportedly picked up simply for engaging in discussions about the #PoliceProtest planned for July 21, 2025. What began as a supposed retired officers’ protest has morphed into a broader campaign, with serving officers ā even senior ones ā actively involved.”
“In an attempt to stifle the movement, authorities moved quickly to round up those associated with it. At the FID, we were told the officers had been taken for an āorderly room trial.ā But the real motive became apparent when a Commissioner of Police on site spotted us, called his men, instructed them not to disclose anything, and left abruptly.ā
Sowore added, “We also attempted to speak with AIG Aina, the officer in charge, but he said he lacked authority and asked us to contact his DIG. He offered to give us the DIGās number but failed to do so, even after we left.”
He insisted that the detained officers were being held under unfair conditions for merely supporting a call for dignity and welfare within the police.
“Our sources tell us the officers are still holding strong and are not backing down. We will not stop until they are freed. The protest scheduled for July 21 will hold. Injustice within the Nigeria Police Force is a danger to justice everywhere,ā he concluded.
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