PHOTOS: Police, soldiers block ex-servicemen from protesting at defence ministry

Armed police and soldiers on Wednesday prevented retired military personnel from protesting in front of the Ministry of Defence in Abuja. The ex-servicemen had gathered to demand the implementation of consequential pension adjustments, which are tied to recent salary increases for active military personnel.

Security forces mobilized in large numbers, blocking the protesters from assembling at their planned demonstration site. The development followed an earlier confrontation between serving soldiers and the retired personnel when security operatives initially attempted to stop the ex-servicemen from gathering.

The retirees are seeking the implementation of pension adjustments that reflect the salary increases approved for their counterparts currently serving in the military. The heavy security presence ultimately prevented the ex-servicemen from converging at the ministry's front as they had intended.