Police, Soldiers Block Ex-Servicemen From Protesting at Defence Ministry

Armed police officers and soldiers on Wednesday prevented retired military personnel from staging a protest in front of the Ministry of Defence in Abuja.

The ex-servicemen had gathered to demand the implementation of consequential adjustments to their pensions following salary increases approved for serving military personnel.

The protesters attempted to move towards the front of the ministry as part of their planned demonstration, but security personnel were mobilised to stop them from assembling at the location.

The development followed an earlier confrontation between serving soldiers and the retired personnel after the security operatives attempted to prevent the ex-servicemen from staging the protest at the ministry.

The heavy security presence subsequently blocked the retirees from converging at the premises as planned.

The ex-servicemen have been demanding the implementation of pension adjustments they say should have followed salary increases granted to serving military personnel.

The protest highlights the longstanding concerns of military retirees over pension disparities and the implementation of approved adjustments.

The security agencies had yet to issue a detailed statement on the confrontation at the time of filing this report.