By our reporter
Widows of retired and deceased Nigerian police officers have come forward with shocking allegations that senior officials are demanding sexual favours in exchange for processing their husbands’ entitlements. The widows made this claim during a protest at the National Assembly in Abuja, calling for justice, urgent reforms, and a complete overhaul of the police pension system.
The demonstrators, made up of retired officers and families of deceased personnel, accused the government of systemic neglect, corruption, and abuse within the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS). According to the protesters, the scheme has left many former officers and their families destitute after decades of loyal service to the nation.
One widow, speaking tearfully to journalists, said some officials tasked with processing police pensions and gratuities demand sexual favours before releasing the benefits. She further claimed that in some cases, even daughters of deceased officers are targeted. Another widow stated that her husband’s entitlements had been withheld for over five years simply because she refused to comply with such advances.
Many of the protesters held placards demanding the immediate removal of the Nigeria Police from the Contributory Pension Scheme. They argued that the scheme lacks accountability and transparency, leaving grieving families at the mercy of corrupt officials. Several widows lamented being forced into poverty, struggling to feed their children, and living without hope after their husbands died in active service.
While pension irregularities in Nigeria’s security sector have long been reported, the latest sexual exploitation claims add a distressing dimension. Civil society organisations and human rights advocates have begun demanding an independent probe into the allegations, warning that the silence of victims stems from fear of retaliation and lack of institutional protection.
Some retired officers who joined the protest expressed deep frustration at how the country treats its ex-servicemen. One former inspector said many of his colleagues died without receiving a single pension payment. He described the current system as an insult to those who risked their lives to defend the nation.
The protesters presented several demands to the government, including immediate investigations into the abuse claims, the removal of the police from the contributory scheme, and timely payment of all outstanding pensions and gratuities. They also called for legal and psychological support for affected widows and the establishment of an independent oversight body to monitor the pension disbursement process.
Although the National Assembly has not yet issued a formal response, insiders from the Senate Committee on Police Affairs have hinted that the matter may be raised during an emergency session later this month. Meanwhile, calls are growing for the National Human Rights Commission to take up the matter and ensure that any official found guilty is held accountable.
This protest, and the chilling testimonies that came with it, reflect a growing sense of injustice within Nigeria’s law enforcement community. For the widows of those who died in service, the fight for dignity and rightful compensation continues—one filled with sorrow, anger, and a demand for change.
