Family Cries Out As Nigerian Police Dismiss, Secretly Detain Inspector Over WhatsApp Comment Since June

Inspector Adenusi Adebisi, a 48-year-old police officer formerly attached to the Ekiti State Command, has been in detention since June after suggesting in a WhatsApp group that officers embark on a strike to demand better welfare for serving and retired personnel.

Despite serving in the Nigeria Police Force for 23 years, Adebisi remains in custody even after being formally dismissed from the Force.

A family source told SaharaReporters that Adebisi’s ordeal began after he commented in a police WhatsApp group, Intelligence Information Unit, created by one Prince Emoruwa Olabode from Ondo State.

According to the source, on June 18, 2025, an officer identified as Rukevwe shared a viral video of a retired police superintendent who reportedly received only ₦2 million as a retirement benefit.

In reaction, Adebisi commented that officers should consider embarking on a strike to demand better welfare, a post he later deleted.

Unknown to him, someone had taken a screenshot of the comment and forwarded it to higher authorities.

The family source said shortly after, Adebisi was invited to the Ekiti State Police Headquarters, where he was arrested and subsequently transferred to Abuja.

The source told SaharaReporters that when Adebisi arrived in Abuja, he was taken to the IGP’s office. Later, eight other officers linked to the WhatsApp group were also arrested, including three administrators.

The arrested officers were identified as ASP Morawem Kingsley (Edo Command), Inspector Kaleb Daniel (Delta Command), Inspector Otamere Ewamade (23 PMF, Lagos), Inspector Fasoyim Ayodeji, Inspector Ologun Oreoluwa (Ogun Command), Sgt Raji Nifule (Ogun Command), Emomuna Olabode (Ondo Command), and Inspector Adeleke Ramonu (Mopol 25, Abuja).

According to the family source, the officers were detained for 17 days, tried in an orderly room, and on July 10, Adebisi was dismissed from the force.

However, the other officers had their ranks reduced but were released on August 4, 2025.

The source added that since then, Adebisi has been kept in custody while the others regained their freedom.

Meanwhile, according to the family source, one IPO, CSP Mahmoud D. Mohamed, has threatened that Adebisi would die in custody.

Mohamed has also allegedly denied Adebisi access to his phones to contact his family.

The source explained that when activist Omoyele Sowore came looking for the detained officers, Mohamed hid Adebisi away and locked him up at the Special Tactical Squad (STS) until he became gravely ill.

The family source further alleged that CSP Mohamed has repeatedly claimed he is acting on the orders of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), although Adebisi’s relatives doubt whether the IGP is even aware of his prolonged detention.

The source stated, “Inspector Adenusi Adebisi, 48, a police officer attached to the Ekiti State Command, was a member of a WhatsApp group called Intelligence Information Unit, created by one Prince Emoruwa Olabode from Ondo State.

“A viral video of a retired Police Superintendent, who was offered the sum of ₦2 million as his retirement benefit, was posted in the group by one Officer Rukevwe on June 18, 2025. In reaction to the video, Adebisi commented that police officers should embark on a strike to address welfare concerns, though he later deleted the comment.

“Unknown to him, someone had already taken a screenshot of his comment and forwarded it to higher authorities. To his surprise, he received a call summoning him to the Ekiti State Police Headquarters. When he went to answer the call, he was arrested and taken to Abuja.

“On arrival, he was brought before the Inspector General of Police. Later, eight other officers, including a woman, were also arrested in connection with the post. Among them were three administrators of the WhatsApp group.”

“They were detained for 17 days and tried in an orderly room. On July 10, Adebisi was dismissed from the Force, while the other officers had their ranks reduced,” the source said.

According to the source, “On August 4, 2025, the other officers were released, but Adebisi has been held in custody since then. The IPO, CSP Mahmoud D. Mohamed, allegedly threatened that Adebisi would die in custody and has also denied him access to his phones, preventing him from communicating with his family.

“Adebisi has diligently served the Nigerian Police Force for the past 23 years with honesty,” the family source said.

The family, however, is begging Nigerians to come to his rescue and not allow him to die simply for demanding better welfare for officers.

On September 6, SaharaReporters reported how Adebisi’s wife, Damilola, appealed for the release of her husband.

“Please, myself and children are suffering due to his absence,” she lamented, adding that their children were asking for their father, “and I don’t know what to tell them again”.