Leaked memo reveals FCT police barracks lockdown ahead of July 21 protest

DDM News

A leaked internal memo from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has revealed a sweeping restriction on officers, confining them to barracks ahead of a planned protest by retired police personnel.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the confidential directive was signed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations (COMPOL DOPS) for the FCT and circulated among top officers, including Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), and commanders of the 50 and 21 Police Mobile Force (PMF), the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), and the State Intelligence Department (SID).

The directive, dated ahead of the scheduled protest on Sunday, July 21, 2025, warned all off-duty officers and Unit Commanders (UCs) against making public statements that could depict the Nigeria Police Force as unruly or insubordinate.

According to the memo, the officers must also remain at their duty posts and await a formal “stand down” order before leaving their positions.

The instruction referenced two prior signal numbers from the office of the Inspector General of Police, emphasizing strict compliance to maintain internal control and discipline during the period of potential unrest.

The document further mandated that unit commanders deliver lectures within their Area of Responsibility (AOR) to reemphasize discipline, loyalty, and operational readiness among junior ranks.

Although the memo did not explicitly mention the root cause of the unease, reliable sources informed DDM that the growing discontent stems from the unresolved grievances surrounding the controversial Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), which has left many retired police officers in financial despair.

The officers, particularly those nearing retirement or already retired, have complained bitterly about low monthly stipends ranging from ₦18,000 to ₦75,000, and the lack of a proper Police Pension Board to oversee their welfare.

This discontent has given rise to what organizers have termed the “Mother of All Peaceful Protests,” a planned nationwide demonstration led by the National Association of Retired Police Officers of Nigeria (NARPON).

The protest is intended to highlight years of frustration with the existing pension structure, which police retirees say unfairly treats them in contrast to personnel in other security agencies like the military, DSS, and NIA, who remain exempt from the CPS.

Retirees allege that the imposed pension system has led to extreme hardship, financial embarrassment, untreated illnesses, and even premature deaths among their ranks.

Earlier in the year, a similar sit-in protest was held at the National Assembly, during which retirees submitted petitions and demanded swift passage of the Police Pension Board Bill, first debated in November 2024.

Despite those efforts, lawmakers have yet to provide a concrete response, sparking outrage and further protests.

In what appears to be a preemptive crackdown, the FCT police leadership’s latest move may be an attempt to prevent current officers from showing sympathy toward the protesting retirees or participating in the movement.

Internal sources told DDM that some serving officers have already faced quiet queries over suspected links to the protests, while a nationwide roll-call exercise has been launched to monitor loyalty among the ranks.

As of press time, the Nigeria Police Force has not issued an official public statement addressing the leaked memo or its stance on the grievances raised by police retirees.

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