By our reporter
One hundred and sixty Nigerian police officers who recently returned from a peacekeeping mission in Somalia have accused the Nigeria Police authorities of withholding their allowances for the entire duration of their 20-month deployment.
The officers, part of the Formed Police Unit assigned to the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), claim they have not received a single euro of their promised €734 monthly stipend, despite reports that the European Union and African Union had already released the funds to Nigeria.
They were deployed on October 16, 2023, and served until June 14, 2025, working in dangerous conditions to support Somalia’s security and stability. According to them, they returned home with nothing to show for their sacrifice and service.
Beyond the unpaid allowances, the officers also allege that recommendations for promotion—submitted by international supervisors who assessed their performance—were ignored by the Nigeria Police leadership. Some said the experience had left them disillusioned, with a number now considering resignation.
Repeated attempts to obtain a response from police authorities on the matter were unsuccessful.
This is not the first time Nigerian security personnel have raised concerns over unpaid peacekeeping entitlements. Similar allegations have been made in the past by officers deployed to missions in Guinea-Bissau, Mali, and earlier operations in Somalia, prompting questions about accountability and the handling of foreign-funded allowances.
As public pressure mounts, attention is now turning to the government and police hierarchy to explain the delay and ensure the affected officers receive their due compensation.
