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Anxiety as retired police officers, Sowore stage ‘mother of all protests’ in Abuja, others

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Presidential candidate of African Action Congress, AAC, in the 2023 elections, Omoyele Sowore and other activists have vowed to stage a protest in Abuja on Monday, today, to demand improved welfare for personnel of the Nigeria Police Force.

Simultaneously, members of the Nigerian Union of Retired Police Officers will be picketing the National Assembly complex and the Force Headquarters to demand their removal from the contributory pension scheme, which they described as a “discriminatory pension scheme.”

The retired officers claimed that they have been pushed to the wall with the government’s unresponsive attitude to their yearnings about what they tagged “discriminatory pension scheme.”

In a telephone interview  on Sunday, the Chairman of the union, Mannir M. Lawal, said members from across the 36 states are presently in Abuja for the “mother of all peaceful protests.”

“Nothing is going to stop the protest. We have just met with the FCT Commissioner of Police. We have informed him of our intention.

“We just want to be removed from the Contributory Pension Scheme. We want all our savings to be refunded to us with immediate effect,” he said.

Contrary to reports that Sowore and other activists orchestrated the protest to tarnish the image of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Lawal said that the union solely planned the exercise.

He said, “We only saw Sowore’s own on social media. We are not aware of his planned protest before today.”

Sensitive police welfare politicised, colleagues for ulterior motives – Police

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The Nigeria Police Force lamented on Sunday that certain actors in the country have decided to politicize a sensitive welfare issue of the personnel and retired police officers, stating that they are “weaponizing the legitimate grievances of our retired colleagues for ulterior motives.”

Apparently referring to moves by Sowore and other activists, the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said in a statement that “their intent is not reform, but disruption.”

He accused the unnamed actors of “twisting facts, inflaming sentiments, and sowing distrust in the public space,” stressing that their actions do a disservice not only to the force, “but to the integrity of public discourse in our country.”

“We, however, remain focused on the real issue, which is the welfare of those who once bore the burden of national security with courage and honour.”

The IGP, however, directed Commissioners of Police to ensure the protesters are protected.

Police direct officers to remain in barracks

A leaked memo sighted on Sunday night directed some police officers, particularly those in the nation’s capital, to remain in the barracks until further notice.

“All officers and men serving in the command be confined to the barracks with immediate effect until further notice.

“All to acknowledge receipt for strict compliance please,” part of the memo from Supol Asokoro and dated July 20, 2025, indicated.

Police fidgeting, no going back on protest – Sowore

When contacted , Sowore said despite the oppositions from the Force and the Police Community Relations Committee, PCRC, “there is no going back on the protest.”

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Also, in a post on his social media handles, Sowore alleged that the Nigeria Police Force and the present administration led by Bola Tinubu “refused to pay the police decent salaries,” insisting that it is a “lack of respect for you to deny them pensions.”

“You humiliated them in service and in retirement. Now you’re scrambling, issuing statements, summoning spin doctors, locking officers in barracks, trying to explain away decades of injustice,” he wrote on his Facebook page.

The Police Community Relations Committee, PCRC, on Sunday called on the aggrieved retirees to return to the table for negotiations, stating that the planned nationwide protest was an attempt to discredit the IGP.

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PHOTOS: Police demote officer for unauthorised VIP escort duty

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The Nigeria Police Force has demoted a corporal to the rank of constable for engaging in unauthorised VIP escort duties, in violation of directives issued by the Inspector-General of Police and President Bola Tinubu.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the force disclosed that CPL Suleiman Musa (F/No: 517077), attached to 45 PMF, was found escorting a VIP without the required clearance. His action was deemed a breach of the strict enforcement measures put in place to end the indiscriminate deployment of police personnel for such assignments.

According to the statement, the disciplinary action serves as a warning to other officers and reinforces the need for full compliance with operational guidelines.

The force also noted that the incident raises questions about how the unauthorised assignment came about and whether the officer acted alone.

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PHOTOS: Father, son, three others d!e in Kano well collapse and fire incident

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Tragedy struck across three local government areas of Kano State as five people, including a 10-year-old girl, lost their lives in separate incidents involving a well collapse, a fall into a well, and a house fire.

The spokesperson of the Kano State Fire Service, Saminu Abdullahi, confirmed the incidents in a statement issued on Saturday, December 6, 2025.

The first incident occurred in Badume Kanawa Village, Bichi Local Government Area, where three people d!ed while attempting to re-dig a well.

According to Abdullahi, the rope supporting one of the victims, identified as Sa’idu Gada, 65, snapped while he was working inside the well.

In a desperate attempt to save him, his son, Sani Isyaku, 20, entered the well but also became trapped. A third man, Yakubu Abdullahi, 60, followed with the hope of rescuing both, but he too was unable to make it out.

Fire Service personnel rescued the trio in an unconscious state, but they were later confirmed d3ad.

Their remains were handed over to DSP Kabiru Iliyasu of the Badume Police Division.

In another incident in Danbatta Local Government Area, a 10-year-old boy, Hassan Iliyasu Haruna, fell into a well and d!ed before help could reach him.

The third tragedy occurred in Badawa Layin Day in Nassarawa Local Government Area, where a 10-year-old girl d!ed in a house fire on Thursday, December 4, 2025.

Fire Service officials said the blaze engulfed a section of a residential building, destroying two bedrooms. The girl was rescued unconscious but was later confirmed d3ad.

Speaking on the incidents, the Director of the Fire Service, Sani Anas, urged residents to avoid entering wells during emergencies, warning that such actions often result in additional casualties rather than successful rescues.

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He advised the public to immediately call emergency responders when accidents occur, stressing that trained personnel are better equipped to handle such situations safely.

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PHOTOS: Troops rescue 14 kidnapped victims in Benue forest

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Nigerian Army troops of Joint Task Force Sector One, Operation Udo Ka (OPUK), in collaboration with the Neighbourhood Watch, have rescued 14 kidnapped victims during a coordinated operation at Orokam Forest, a border area linking Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State and Ogbadigbo Local Government Area of Benue State.

The operation was conducted on Friday at about 1:30 p.m., following credible intelligence from locals indicating the presence of a suspected kidnappers’ hideout in the forest.

Troops deployed in Udenu LGA swiftly mobilised to the location alongside vigilante personnel of the Neighbourhood Watch.

While approaching the hideout, the criminals opened fire on the troops. The joint team responded with a high volume of fire, forcing the kidnappers to flee in disarray and abandon the kidnapped victims.

14 abducted persons, who were returning from a burial ceremony over the weekend before being kidnapped, were rescued unhurt.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the victims were abducted from two separate communities Ezimo Agu in Udenu LGA, Enugu State, and Orokam in Ogbadigbo LGA, Benue State.

The victims were subsequently handed over to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Udenu Division, for onward reunification with their families.

The troops expended 70 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition during the engagement and returned to base at about 7:21 p.m. without any incident.

Troops had intensified monitoring of the general area to deny criminal elements freedom of action.

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