Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Unpaid retired officers planning nationwide protests to embarrass IG Usman Baba: Police memo

It is unclear whether the force is taking any step to stop the protests.

• April 9, 2023
Femi Adesina
Usman Baba Alkali

Senior police officers owed six months salary increase arrears until their retirement, are planning to stage protests across the nation to humiliate and imperil the tenure of Usman Baba-Alkali as police inspector-general before the incoming administration, Peoples Gazette has learnt.

“Source has it that the organizers of the planned protest are bent on carrying out their plan with the sheer motive to dent the soaring reputation of and cast aspersion on the person of the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba CFR,” reads a police memo dated March 31 and seen by The Gazette.

The memo titled “PAY ARREARS OR GO” is aimed at clamouring for Mr Baba’s dismissal from the police force and portraying him as incompetent before the new administration.

The retired officers in the ranks of ASPs and DSPs in Abia, Nasarawa, Benue, Katsina, Lagos, Niger, Cross River and Force CID Abuja, intend to march through their respective states on May 29 to demand that Mr Baba be fired and prosecuted by the incoming president for allegedly embezzling their salary arrears.

“That the protesters also intend not only to plead to the President-Elect’s conscience but also to take their matter to him, when sworn-in as the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Of The Federal Republic of Nigeria with the demand to sack and prosecute the IGP who they accuse of embezzling their Six months salary arrears,” the memo stated.

It is unclear whether the force is taking any step to stop the protests as force spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, did not immediately respond to calls seeking comments on the matter.

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