BREAKING: Ondo Inspector Detained Over Alleged WhatsApp Post On Planned July 21 Police Protest, To Be Transferred To Abuja Monday

A police inspector, Emoruwa Olabode, attached to Idanre Police Station in Ondo State, has been arrested by the police authorities over a post on a WhatsApp group regarding a planned nationwide protest slated for July 21, 2025.

The protest aims to demand better working conditions for both serving and retired police officers.

According to sources, Inspector Olabode was arrested on Friday, July 4, 2025, from his station and taken to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Akure, Ondo State.

He is reportedly being detained over a post shared in a WhatsApp group for police officers, where he serves as one of the administrators.

Two other administrators of the group are also being detained for the same post, following the directive of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, SaharaReporters gathered.

Meanwhile Olabode is expected to be transferred to the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Monday, July 7, 2025.

A retired police officer, CSP Iwamitigha Raphael Irowainu, confirmed the arrest, quoting Olabode's wife, who stated that he was arrested by a team of police officers led by ACP Okpaleke Obiesie Anthony, the Officer-in-Charge of the State Intelligence Department.

Confirming the arrest, Olabode's wife told SaharaReporters that her husband was arrested on Friday and has been in detention since then. She said the details of the offence against her husband are not clear, but the case is being handled by the Force Intelligence Department (FID).

"My husband was arrested on Friday and taken to the police state headquarters, where he has been in detention since Friday," Olabode's wife said. "The details of the offence against my husband are not clear until he gets to Abuja. The case is being handled by the Force Intelligence Department (FID)."

Olabode's wife also stated that her husband denied making any post that contravened police rules.

"My husband told me that the said WhatsApp group has been there since 2015 and they have been using it as a social thing to educate themselves and teach themselves about police activities," she said. "He said they have rules and that the rules are posted on the platform regularly to remind themselves of the dos and don'ts."

She also stated that Olabode's statement was obtained under caution, although he was not shown the alleged post that led to his arrest.

The arrest has sparked concerns about the freedom of speech and association within the police force.

Meanwhile, when SaharaReporters contacted ACP Okpaleke on the telephone, he denied being in charge of any case like that.

"I am not in charge of the case," he said.

Background

Amid growing discontent over pension reforms and deteriorating post-service conditions, retired officers of the Nigeria Police Force have announced plans to stage a nationwide protest on July 21, 2025.

The demonstration—described by organisers as the “Mother of All Peaceful Protests”—is being coordinated by the Union of Retired Police Officers, with participation expected from all 36 states of the federation.

At the heart of the agitation is a longstanding demand for the removal of the Nigeria Police Force from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), which the retirees argue has subjected them to years of economic hardship, delayed entitlements, and a lack of dignity in retirement.

Many have cited cases of depression, financial embarrassment, and even premature deaths among their ranks as a result of the current pension structure.

The retirees are calling for the establishment of an independent Police Pension Board that would exclusively manage police pensions, separate from the broader CPS framework. They argue that the unique risks and sacrifices associated with policing warrant a more tailored and humane retirement system.

This is not the first time the group has taken its grievances to the public square. Between February 24 and March 3, 2025, retired officers staged a week-long protest at the National Assembly complex in Abuja, submitting petitions to key legislative committees and the Department of State Services (DSS).

Their demands centred on the swift passage of the Police Pension Board Bill, which had its public hearing on November 19, 2024. However, the lack of legislative follow-through has fueled frustration and prompted the decision to escalate their campaign.

Despite the scale of the planned protest, the retirees have emphasised that their actions will remain peaceful and within the bounds of the law. They have also distanced themselves from any groups advocating violence or political disruption, insisting that their movement is rooted in constitutional rights and a desire for justice in retirement.