A retired Nigerian police officer has sparked national security concerns by threatening to join Boko Haram in protest against the “slavery” of the Contributory Pension Scheme, despite recent legislative efforts to exit the force from the system.
“If nothing is done about this, I’ll go to the other side and I’ll join B0koh@ram, I’ll be helping them to fix thier gvns and training them”
– Retired Policeman Vows To Join, Train Terr0r!sts Over Slav£ry Pension😭💔 pic.twitter.com/mS331UgwTe
— Oyindamola🙄 (@dammiedammie35) April 3, 2026
A retired Nigerian police officer has sparked widespread alarm after publicly threatening to defect to the terrorist group Boko Haram due to unresolved grievances regarding his retirement benefits. Highlighting the deepening frustration among former security personnel, the ex-officer described the current Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) as a form of “slavery” and expressed a profound sense of abandonment after decades of service. During a viral address, he warned that his prior military-grade training could be turned against the state if the government fails to address the welfare of retirees. “If nothing is done about this, I’ll go to the other side and I’ll join Boko Haram, I’ll be helping them to fix their guns and training them,” he declared, prompting immediate calls for government intervention to prevent a potential internal security breach.
The retiree’s outcry follows a long history of industrial action by former law enforcement officers, who have frequently besieged the National Assembly in Abuja to demand an exit from the CPS. In September 2025, hundreds of retirees branded the scheme a “fraudulent arrangement” and “the latest 419 in Nigeria,” claiming it systematically trapped them in poverty. While the Nigerian Senate, led by President Godswill Akpabio, responded in December 2025 by passing the Nigeria Police Force Pension Board Bill and promising a speedy exit from the controversial scheme, many veterans claim that the practical benefits of these legislative moves have yet to reach their bank accounts. The delays in transitioning to an independent Pension Board have left many elderly officers unable to afford basic medication or housing.
Public reaction to the officer’s threat has been a mix of empathy for the retirees’ plight and terror at the security implications of his ultimatum. Security experts warn that the recruitment of experienced former officers by insurgent groups would represent a catastrophic failure of the state’s duty to its veterans. As of April 3, 2026, the police leadership has urged calm, emphasizing that the implementation of the new Pension Board remains a priority for the administration of President Bola Tinubu. However, for many who served on the front lines, the promise of “speedy hearing and concurrence” remains an empty gesture until the monthly “slavery” of inadequate payments is officially ended.
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