In a powerful rebuttal to reports suggesting a meeting with the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has come out to condemn what he called a “fake meeting” and a distraction from the real issues confronting serving and retired police officers in Nigeria.
Taking to his official social media platform, Sowore declared that the protesters did not meet with IGP Kayode Egbetokun, whom he labeled as “illegal” and unrecognized by the movement.
“We did not meet with Illegal IGP Kayode Egbetokun today, nor could we have. We do not recognize him as the legitimate Inspector-General of the Nigeria Police Force,” Sowore stated.
He dismissed any form of engagement with the police leadership as fabricated and politically motivated, insisting that the ongoing protests are not photo-ops or backdoor meetings, but a historic mass action for dignity, justice, and structural reform.
“The struggle we launched today is not a tea party for handpicked retirees. It is a collective protest for both serving and retired officers, for decent pay, proper equipment, fair pensions, and an end to decades of institutional slavery,” he added.
Sowore criticized the IGP for allegedly hiding in a backroom with a curated group of retirees, while the real protesters shut down the Force Headquarters in full public view. He accused the police leadership of attempting to water down the movement by staging what he described as a “performative dialogue” behind closed doors.
“The movement is far bigger than the illegal IGP’s attempt to isolate and pacify a few individuals. What we witnessed today was a show of people power. And it is only just beginning,” he said.
Reaffirming the resolve of the protest organizers, Sowore announced a mass return to the streets on August 1, 2025, promising that the momentum will not be lost until the government yields to the demands for systemic reform.
“We are not fooled by secret meetings. We demand open, transparent, and lasting change for all. Our protests will continue. We are returning in full force,” he concluded.
The protest, which gained national attention, is the first coordinated movement involving both active and retired members of the Nigeria Police Force, calling for a radical overhaul of welfare structures, equipment standards, and post-service treatment.
With more public attention turning toward issues within the police force, the August 1 protest may be a defining moment in the country’s demand for institutional accountability.
