‘My Leg Was Amputated In Line Of Duty Yet I’m Abandoned To Suffer’ — Retired Police Superintendent Laments As Pensioners Ask Tinubu To Sign Police Exit Bill
10th June, 2026 | News
Speaking at a press conference organised by the Retired Police Officers Forum under the CPS in Akure, Ondo State, Odesanmi recounted the incident that led to the amputation of his leg while he was on active duty at Tincan Island, Lagos.
According to him, the tragedy occurred during an operation at Apapa Wharf where he and three other officers were pursuing a suspected robber. In the course of the chase, a trailer ran over his leg, causing severe injuries that ultimately resulted in amputation.
“My leg was amputated while I was serving this country. We were chasing a robbery suspect at Apapa Wharf when a trailer crushed my leg. The injury was so severe that the leg had to be removed,” he said.
Odesanmi’s testimony underscored the frustrations of many retired police officers who say they have been neglected despite risking their lives in service to the nation.
The press conference formed part of a renewed campaign by retired police personnel demanding the immediate withdrawal of the Nigeria Police Force from the Contributory Pension Scheme.
Addressing journalists, the National Coordinator of the Retired Police Officers Forum, retired Chief Superintendent of Police Raphael T. Irowainu, called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently sign the Police Pension Board Establishment Bill, popularly known as the Police Exit Bill.
The retired officers argued that police personnel face risks and hazards comparable to those encountered by other security agencies such as the Armed Forces, the Department of State Services (DSS), the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), all of which operate outside the Contributory Pension Scheme.
According to the forum, exempting the police from the scheme would restore fairness among security institutions, improve morale, and recognise the sacrifices of officers who dedicate their lives to protecting Nigerians.
The group issued an 11-day ultimatum to President Tinubu, urging him to sign the bill into law on or before June 19, 2026. They noted that the National Assembly passed the legislation on December 4, 2025, and transmitted it to the President for assent on March 16, 2026.
Irowainu described the bill as a landmark opportunity to address longstanding concerns among police retirees.
“If President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signs the Police Exit Bill into law, he will be making one of the most significant decisions for the welfare of security personnel by restoring institutional parity and strengthening morale across security agencies,” he said.
The forum also rejected reports suggesting that a committee was negotiating alternative pension arrangements with the National Pension Commission (PENCOM), insisting that retired police officers nationwide remain united in their demand for complete withdrawal from the Contributory Pension Scheme.
“Retired police officers have not authorised anyone to negotiate or compromise our demand for total exit from PENCOM. Our position remains clear and unanimous,” Irowainu stated.
The retirees are demanding immediate presidential assent to the Police Exit Bill, the establishment of a Police Pension Board similar to the Military Pension Board, migration of serving and retired officers to the Defined Benefits Pension Scheme, and payment of all outstanding pension entitlements and arrears.
They warned that failure to meet these demands by June 19 would leave them with no option but to resume nationwide protests and intensify their campaign for pension reform.
“Our voices are united and unmistakable. We want total exit from PENCOM—nothing less,” Irowainu declared.