The Lagos State Commissioner of Police has ordered a compulsory headcount for all personnel attached to the Tin Can Island Port Police Division in Apapa, as tensions rise ahead of a planned nationwide protest by retired police officers.
According to an internal police memo dated July 20 and signed by ASP Zaki Shekwolo on behalf of the Divisional Police Officer, all officers are to report to the Divisional Headquarters by 6:00 a.m. on Monday, July 21, 2025, without fail.
“The Commissioner of Police has directed that all personnel serving under Tin Can Island Police Division fall in at the Divisional Headquarters tomorrow Monday 21/07/2025 by 0600hrs, as there will be head count of all the personnel,” the directive stated.
The order came with strict instructions: no absenteeism or tardiness will be tolerated.
While the memo did not disclose the motive behind the directive, SaharaReporters has learned that it is part of broader efforts by police authorities to prevent serving officers from joining or showing solidarity with the nationwide protest being staged by retired officers.
Abuja Officers Confined to Barracks
This move in Lagos mirrors developments in the Federal Capital Territory, where a leaked internal memo revealed that all police personnel in Abuja were confined to barracks starting Sunday, July 20.
The confidential directive, issued by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations (COMPOL DOPS), was sent to all Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), and heads of tactical units, including the Police Mobile Force (PMF), Rapid Response Squad (RRS), and State Intelligence Department (SID).
According to the memo, off-duty officers were warned against making public statements that could portray the force as undisciplined. The instruction, which references prior signals from the Inspector General of Police, mandates that all officers on duty must remain at their posts until a formal stand-down order is issued.
“You are to engage all men on duty to remain till stand down order,” the memo emphasized. It also ordered commanders to hold internal lectures to reinforce discipline within their units.
Mounting Frustration Over Pension Woes
Sources within the force told SaharaReporters that the tightening of internal controls stems from widespread frustration among police personnel—serving and retired—over pension irregularities and poor post-service welfare.
Retired officers under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) allege that they receive humiliating monthly pensions, with some earning as little as ₦18,000 to ₦75,000. They argue that the police were unfairly subjected to CPS, while other security agencies like the military, DSS, and NIA were exempted.
Organized by the National Association of Retired Police Officers of Nigeria (NARPON) and allied groups, the protest scheduled for Monday, July 21 has been dubbed the “Mother of All Peaceful Protests.”
Many of the retirees claim to suffer from depression, financial distress, and neglect. Earlier this year, they staged a peaceful sit-in at the National Assembly, which ended without any concrete action. Petitions submitted to lawmakers have so far failed to produce progress on the Police Pension Board Bill, last debated in November 2024.
Preemptive Crackdown?
In what many see as a preemptive crackdown, police leadership across Nigeria have been conducting surprise roll-calls and monitoring movements of officers to identify those who may sympathize with the protest.
The Lagos directive, though seemingly administrative, is widely interpreted as part of this strategy to prevent dissent within the ranks.
Meanwhile, morale remains low across police formations, as both active and retired officers question the commitment of the authorities to their welfare and long-term security.
