IGP Deploys Heavy Security as Retired Police Officers Storm Streets Nationwide
Retired police officers across Nigeria on Monday, July 21, 2025, took to the streets in a coordinated nationwide protest demanding their removal from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), citing poor welfare, unpaid benefits, and worsening living conditions. In response, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, ordered the deployment of heavy security across all protest zones, instructing state commands to ensure a peaceful atmosphere while respecting the retirees’ right to protest. The demonstrations, which began early Monday, drew hundreds of retired officers in Abuja, Kwara, and other states. In the Federal Capital Territory, the retirees marched from Unity Fountain to the National Assembly, then to the Force Headquarters. They held placards with bold messages such as “Police Are Not Meant for CPS” and “We Are Dying in Penury.” Despite a downpour in Abuja, the protesters stood their ground, demanding urgent intervention by President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly. Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, joined the march and led a delegation to submit a petition at the National Assembly complex. The Force Headquarters, in a statement issued by spokesperson ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, reiterated the IGP’s directive for officers to maintain law and order while ensuring that the protest remains peaceful and free of external interference. Egbetokun warned against any attempt by political actors or miscreants to hijack the protest, emphasizing that the police would protect the rights of genuine demonstrators. Meanwhile, the Police Service Commission (PSC) described the protest as diversionary, claiming that pension reforms were already being pursued. The PSC urged retirees to remain patient as dialogue continued with the National Pension Commission and relevant agencies. However, the retirees rejected this position, insisting they had waited for years with no change. In Ilorin, Kwara State, protesters gathered at major junctions, demanding an immediate return to the Defined Benefits Scheme (DBS), which offers fixed pension payments based on rank and service duration. Protesters expressed frustration, saying many of their colleagues had died without receiving pensions or gratuities. “We served this country faithfully. Now we are left to suffer in retirement. The military is not under CPS, why should the police be?” said retired Inspector Hassan Garba in Ilorin. Security personnel were visible in all protest locations, including Lagos, Taraba, and Enugu, where state commissioners of police ensured that officers were stationed to monitor the protests without confrontation. The protest is expected to continue in the coming days, with organizers insisting they will not back down until the federal government takes concrete action to address their demands.
