In its Sunday statement, the Nigeria Police Force claimed it had no intention of stopping the protest, describing it as “the mother of all peaceful protests” and pledging to provide security coverage to retired officers participating.
A human rights activist and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has responded to a press statement issued by the Nigeria Police Force attempting to frame the protest as politically motivated and disruptive.
The protest, which has gained massive support across Nigeria, is being championed by both serving and retired police personnel who are demanding urgent reforms in the police welfare system—particularly an increase in salary and a complete overhaul of the pension structure under the controversial Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).
In the past week, numerous retired officers have spoken publicly about the degrading conditions they’ve endured in retirement, many of them now living in poverty and without adequate medical care or housing.
Sowore’s Response
Reacting to the latest statement from the Nigeria Police Force released Sunday evening, Sowore took to social media to restate the determination of protesters:
“THEY CAN’T STOP US! #PoliceProtest IS ON July 21st, 2025,” Sowore declared.
He accused the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of orchestrating decades of injustice against the very officers who risked their lives for national security.
“You refused to pay the police decent salaries. You denied them pensions. You humiliated them in service and in retirement. And now… you fear and want to silence their voice!”
Sowore slammed the police hierarchy’s recent statements as contradictory and dishonest, stating that despite claiming the protest is lawful, they continue to discourage serving officers from participating.
“They say they care, yet police retirees beg on the streets. They talk of future projections, while pensioners are dying of hunger today,” he said. “You can’t beg for peace while denying justice.”
Sowore emphasized that the protest belongs to “the people in uniform who gave their lives to protect Nigeria,” and concluded with a rallying cry:
“Tomorrow, we march on the Force Headquarters and State Commands across Nigeria! #EgbetokunMustGo.”
In its Sunday statement, the Nigeria Police Force claimed it had no intention of stopping the protest, describing it as “the mother of all peaceful protests” and pledging to provide security coverage to retired officers participating.
Signed by ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Force Public Relations Officer, the statement accused unnamed actors of weaponizing legitimate grievances for political gain.
“It is disheartening to observe how certain actors have chosen to politicise a sensitive welfare issue… Their intent is not reform, but disruption.”
While acknowledging that the call for improved police pensions has persisted for over a decade, the police claimed that several efforts had been made by successive leaderships to exit the CPS and improve retirees’ welfare.
They also noted that statutory and fiscal constraints have stalled reforms, claiming that future projections show the pension scheme will become more beneficial over time.
As a short-term intervention, the police revealed plans to leverage internally generated revenue to supplement pensions and pursue private sector partnerships for targeted welfare enhancement.
“This explanation is not intended to suppress the planned protest… [but rather] reflects a leadership that listens, understands, and engages in good faith.”
The IGP has instructed Commissioners of Police to protect the rights of retired protesters while warning serving officers not to be “misled by those who are ignorant of the ethics of our profession.”
Nationwide Mobilization for July 21 Protest
Despite the police’s attempts to present a balanced position, protesters and civil rights groups say the language of the statement betrays fear and panic within the Force hierarchy.
They argue that the effort to caution and restrict serving officers—while ostensibly supporting retirees’ rights—is a deliberate move to divide and weaken the movement.
Protests are expected to begin as early as 7:00 AM on Monday, July 21, with gatherings planned at Force Headquarters in Abuja and various State Commands nationwide.
The organizers insist that the protest will be peaceful, dignified, and a clear expression of frustration over years of neglect and broken promises. Many Nigerians are expected to join in solidarity, recognizing the broader implications for labor rights, justice, and institutional reform.
As Sowore noted, “This is no longer just a protest. It is a moral reckoning for a system that has abandoned those who served it.”