In a bold and controversial move aimed at stifling dissent ahead of a planned nationwide protest, the Nigerian Police Force has initiated a covert roll-call system to monitor and track officers suspected of sympathizing with the July 21, 2025 demonstration against poor welfare conditions and a broken pension system.
Multiple sources within the Force confirmed to SaharaReporters on Monday that police leadership has begun circulating registers at various formations across the country in a bid to identify and isolate officers believed to support the protest.
“Our leaders are rolling out registers that every officer must sign before leaving their stations,” one frustrated officer disclosed. “They want to monitor who joins the protest. My question is — can I refuse to sign? We are tired of this kind of leadership. It’s choking.”
This latest crackdown comes on the heels of the arrest of Inspector Emoruwa Olabode of the Idanre Police Station in Ondo State. Olabode was apprehended last Friday over his alleged involvement in a WhatsApp group chat linked to the upcoming protest. He was reportedly detained by operatives of the State Intelligence Department and has now been transferred to Abuja under tight security.
“They left for Abuja this morning,” Olabode’s distressed wife told SaharaReporters on Monday. “Since Friday, we haven’t spoken. My second child is seriously sick, and they haven’t allowed him to even send money home. His phone was seized, and I couldn’t retrieve it despite pleading with the officers.”
According to sources, Olabode was not the only one targeted. Two other WhatsApp group administrators, Otamere Ewamade — widely known as “Hero” — and Fasoyin Ayodeji, were also arrested by the Lagos State Command two weeks ago and transferred to Abuja. Their ranks and formations remain unclear, but they are believed to have played significant roles in organizing the protest.
The arrests have sparked a firestorm of concern and criticism from within and outside the police establishment. Critics argue that these actions are emblematic of a deeper rot in the Force — one that not only tolerates but perpetuates systemic repression and poor working conditions.
“This is no longer about discipline or operational control. This is a witch-hunt against anyone who dares speak up against the injustices we face every day,” another junior officer lamented.
At the heart of the July 21 protest is the demand for the removal of the Nigeria Police Force from the controversial Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), which officers say has left retirees destitute, emotionally broken, and stripped of dignity. Protest organizers argue that the CPS has not only delayed retirement benefits but has subjected thousands of retired officers to years of suffering, with many dying before receiving their entitlements.
Accounts of depression, financial humiliation, and premature deaths among retired police officers have become all too common — and this protest is seen as a final cry for reform.
The unfolding developments suggest a widening rift between rank-and-file officers and top police brass, who appear more determined to clamp down on internal resistance than to address the legitimate grievances that have fueled widespread unrest.
With the July 21 protest date fast approaching, tensions continue to mount. Will the voices of discontent finally force a reckoning — or will they be silenced under the heavy hand of surveillance, arrest, and intimidation?
As Nigerians and international observers keep watch, the coming days could mark a turning point in the struggle for justice and reform within the Nigeria Police Force.
PIONEER NEWS 