An inspector of the Nigeria Police Force in Ondo State, Emoruwa Olabode, has been arrested and detained over his alleged involvement in a WhatsApp post linked to a planned nationwide protest by serving and retired police officers scheduled for July 21, 2025.
PLATFORM TIMES gathered that Inspector Olabode, attached to the Idanre Police Division, was picked up from his duty post on Friday, July 4, and taken to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Akure on the orders of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
The officer is one of three administrators of a WhatsApp group for police personnel alleged to have circulated messages promoting the planned protest. The other two administrators have also been reportedly detained.
Sources confirmed that Olabode is expected to be transferred to the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Monday, July 7, where further interrogation will be carried out by the Force Intelligence Department (FID).
His arrest has sparked growing concerns over freedom of expression within the ranks of the police force, especially in the face of mounting agitation for improved welfare for both serving and retired officers.
Wife Speaks Out
Speaking with SaharaReporters, Olabode’s wife said her husband denied violating any internal rules, stressing that the WhatsApp group in question had been in existence since 2015 and was used primarily for peer education and discussions around policing best practices.
“He told me the group is governed by clear rules, which are regularly shared to remind members of acceptable conduct. He was surprised by the arrest, especially since no specific post was shown to him,” she said.
She also revealed that her husband’s statement was taken under caution, but that the family remains in the dark about the exact nature of the accusations.
“He has been in detention since Friday. We don’t even know the specific offence. We are only told that the matter is being handled by the FID in Abuja,” she added.
A retired Chief Superintendent of Police, CSP Iwamitigha Raphael Irowainu, also confirmed the arrest, quoting the wife and naming Assistant Commissioner of Police, Okpaleke Obiesie Anthony, as the officer who led the arrest team. However, when contacted by SaharaReporters, ACP Okpaleke denied any involvement, saying, “I am not in charge of the case.”
Background to the Protest
The arrest comes amid rising tensions over worsening post-service conditions for police retirees. Retired officers under the Union of Retired Police Officers are mobilising for what they describe as the “Mother of All Peaceful Protests,” demanding immediate withdrawal of the Nigeria Police from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).
The group argues that the current pension model has left many of its members impoverished, abandoned, and vulnerable, with reports of financial humiliation, delayed entitlements, and even premature deaths due to poor post-service care.
They are calling for the passage of the Police Pension Board Bill, which they believe would create a dedicated body to manage police pensions separately from the broader CPS framework administered by the National Pension Commission (PenCom).
The July 21 protest is expected to draw participation from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Organisers have insisted that the demonstration will be peaceful and devoid of political undertones.
This is not the group’s first major demonstration. Earlier this year, from February 24 to March 3, they occupied the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, submitting petitions to key legislative committees and demanding legislative action on their demands. But months later, the Police Pension Bill remains stalled, prompting another round of mobilisation.
The arrest of Inspector Olabode is drawing criticism from civil rights advocates, who warn that internal suppression of officers’ voices will only escalate tensions and widen the gap between leadership and rank-and-file officers.
Legal experts are already questioning the legality of detaining a serving officer over social media activity that has yet to be proven as insubordinate or seditious.
“This is about the welfare of officers who risk their lives daily. If those within the system cannot speak, how will reforms happen?” asked a lawyer who pleaded anonymity.
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