Tension is rising in the Oyo State Police Command after more than 300 junior officers were excluded from the recent nationwide promotion exercise. While their colleagues across the federation are already wearing new ranks, those in Oyo remain stuck as sergeants, a development that has left many demoralised.
According to officers who spoke with SaharaReporters, the last time they got promoted was back in November 2020. “On July 16, there was general promotion for junior ranks, but all my mates serving here in Oyo were exempted. Nobody has explained why,” one officer lamented.
Findings showed that while counterparts in other states have moved up to the rank of inspector, those in Oyo are still saluting colleagues they were recruited alongside. Some say the humiliation is unbearable. “Imagine giving compliments to someone who was your mate just because of an error or omission,” another officer expressed in frustration.
![Image: Police officers during a parade – symbolizing stalled promotions in Oyo Command]
Interestingly, not all Oyo officers were affected. Sources confirmed that those attached to the Mobile Police Force (MOPOL), Special Protection Unit (SPU), and border patrol got promoted, leaving their colleagues in regular formations stranded.
The silence from police authorities has fueled suspicions of bias and foul play. Some officers described the stagnation as “killing morale,” insisting it feels like deliberate punishment. “We have kept suffering, while our mates are going ahead of us. Nobody is telling us anything,” one said.
This is not the first time the police promotion exercise has raised eyebrows. Earlier in the year, many questioned why CSP Ibrahim Sini — the officer who famously rejected a N150 million bribe in 2024 — was not included in the list. Family members of the respected officer expressed disappointment, stressing that integrity should be rewarded, not ignored.
For officers in Oyo State, the situation is a bitter reminder of what many describe as the Nigerian Police’s chronic lack of transparency. Without urgent intervention, insiders warn, morale could sink even further in the command.
