Human rights activist and presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, on Monday led a passionate protest in Abuja, demanding justice, dignity, and fair compensation for retired Nigerian police officers. The protest, which drew dozens of supporters, centered around the poor welfare conditions of both retired and serving police personnel.
Sowore, speaking at the rally, did not hold back in condemning the Nigerian government and the Police Pension Commission (PenCom) for allegedly looting pension funds and abandoning officers who had served the country faithfully.
“Nigeria is the first place where a criminal has the audacity to steal police pension and get away with it,” Sowore declared. “If you want to steal, will it be from the police? It’s because the thieves are even stronger than the police!”
He alleged that PenCom is controlled by retired police officers who have refused to leave the system because they benefit from its corruption. According to Sowore, some of the most luxurious estates in Abuja are owned by former officers who looted the pension system while the actual retirees live in misery and die in silence.
Sowore also reacted to a statement from the Police Service Commission describing the protest as “ill-timed and diversionary,” dismissing it as a recycled excuse meant to silence those demanding accountability.
“We are not here to respond to their tired templates,” he fired back. “We are here on behalf of policemen who are suffering — serving, retired, and even those who died and whose families haven’t been paid a kobo.”
Calling for radical reform, Sowore stated that every police officer in Nigeria should be entitled to life insurance. He insisted that no officer should earn less than ₦500,000 per month, arguing that it is irrational for a police officer guarding a bank to earn far less than the manager sitting behind a desk.
WATCH FULL VIDEO HERE ON SYMFONI TV
“How can a police officer guard a bank and earn less than the bank manager he’s protecting?” he asked. “₦500,000 is just about $300 — it’s even too small!”
He condemned the glaring inequality in Nigeria, where senators earn over ₦30 million monthly, while police officers assigned to guard them cannot afford basic medication. He revealed that many officers, after 35 years of service, have gone home with as little as ₦900,000 in total benefits — a figure he called disgraceful.
Sowore acknowledged criticisms that police officers have historically defended corrupt regimes. However, he insisted that the problem lies in the system, not just the officers themselves.
“People ask why we’re fighting for the police, but the truth is that police is bad because Nigeria is bad,” he said. “You cannot find a good police from a bad country.”
He urged retired officers not to be afraid and encouraged them to join the protest, noting that even some serving policemen on the protest route expressed quiet support.
“We urge retirees to stand tall,” Sowore concluded. “The system is broken, but our spirits are not.”
READ ALSO: ‘We Celebrate Wrongdoing in Nigeria” – Jonathan Laments, Calls for National Reawakening
The protest, which began at the National Assembly, continued toward the Police Headquarters in Abuja, as Sowore and others vowed not to relent until justice is served for those who once wore the uniform.
