The Nigeria Police Force has reportedly launched a nationwide roll-call exercise to monitor and identify serving officers who may be showing support for an upcoming protest by retired police personnel scheduled for July 21.

The move Is seen as an attempt to curtail possible internal solidarity with the planned demonstration.

The protest, being championed by a coalition of retired police officers, is aimed at drawing attention to years of poor welfare, inadequate pensions, and the perceived injustices under the current Contributory Pension Scheme.

Organizers have described the demonstration as the “Mother of All Peaceful Protests”.

The planned action follows previous protests earlier in the year, notably a peaceful sit-out in Abuja between February 24 and March 3, which retirees say failed to prompt any meaningful response from the Government.

As tensions grow ahead of the demonstration, sources within the police say that roll-call attendance is now being used to quietly track serving officers’ loyalty and discourage any covert or overt support for the retirees’ cause.

While no official statement has been issued by police authorities on the matter, insiders are of the view that the leadership of the force is wary of internal solidarity with the protesters.

Retired officers across the country have continued to decry their unfair treatment under the Contributory Pension Scheme, citing extremely low gratuities. Some reportedly received as low as N2 million after 35 years of service and monthly pensions as meagre as N30,000 to N48,000, a sharp contrast to what their counterparts in the military enjoy.

In a recent public address, the aggrieved officers reiterated their demands for the urgent establishment of a Police Pension Board and a total withdrawal from the current pension system, which they describe as “unjust” and “unfair”

They insist that their planned protest will be peaceful and is constitutionally guaranteed.

The development has sparked intense reactions across social media and public discourse, with some commentators controversially suggesting a crackdown on the retirees. While others says it’s good they are reaping the whirlwind of injustice they unleashed on Nigerians when they were serving.

Human rights activist Deji Adeyanju condemned such views, saying, “Teargasing retired police officers for protesting against poor pensions would be a national disgrace.”

With July 21 is fast approaching, public attention is now focused on how the police leadership will navigate the growing pressure of balancing the need for internal control with mounting calls for justice and long-overdue pension reforms for its retired personnel. (Daily Independent, excluding headline)