‘We’ve not received allowances for seven months,’ MOPOL officers allege

Some Mobile Police (MOPOL) officers deployed for peacekeeping operations in Plateau State have alleged that they have not received their monthly allowances for seven months, claiming funds released by the state government are being diverted.

However, the Nigeria Police Force has denied responsibility for the payments, stating that officers on peacekeeping duties operate under the Joint Task Force of Operation Safe Haven, where allowances are not managed by the Force.

According to Daily Trust, security personnel drawn from various agencies were deployed to Plateau, Benue and other states to tackle rising insecurity.

One of the affected officers, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation, said they were deployed from Kano State to communities in Jos South, Barkin Ladi, Bokkos and other local government areas in December 2025.

He said they were promised a monthly allowance of N150,000 each by the Plateau State Government and received payment only for December.

“We were taken to the Government House on arrival and assured that the allowance would be paid every month. We later learnt that the government has continued releasing the money, but from January to July we have not received anything. We don’t know who is diverting the funds,” he alleged.

Another officer said the personnel were serving in remote communities where the cost of living is high, making it difficult to survive on their salaries alone.

“Our salaries are no longer enough to feed us here and support our families. Some of our colleagues have even been issued quit notices because they can no longer pay their rent,” he said.

A third officer alleged that under Mobile Police regulations, officers deployed outside their states for special duties are entitled to allowances.

He claimed that while officers deployed after them had received their entitlements, their batch had been left unpaid despite repeated complaints.

“Withholding the money is a violation of our rights. It is our entitlement and should be paid to us,” he said.

The officers also described the operation as challenging, saying they often travel long distances to buy food at high prices.

They appealed to the Inspector-General of Police and other relevant authorities to investigate the matter and ensure they receive their outstanding allowances.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the Plateau State Police Command, SP Alabo Alfred, did not respond to calls or text messages.

Responding to the allegations, the Force Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Anietie Iniedu, said the Nigeria Police Force is not responsible for the operation or the payment of allowances.

He urged aggrieved officers to exhaust all internal mechanisms for addressing their grievances rather than taking the matter to the public, warning that such actions could demoralise personnel.

“The operation that I know of in Plateau State is not handled by the police. It is a Joint Task Force that is being handled by the state government. We have a special duty, Operation Safe Haven, being coordinated by the military. It is a joint task force. They have several security agents there. So, the police are not responsible for that one,” Iniedu said.

Join Very Nigerian WhatsApp Channel
For Verified Breaking News, Exclusive Reports, Trending Stories, And Real-time Updates.
CLICk HERE TO JOIN!