Nigerian police officers make over ₦700,000 from job seekers in phoney constables recruitment

Two serving police officers attached to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) at the Niger State Police Command Headquarters, Dutsen Kura, Minna, have been at the centre of accusations of defrauding three young Nigerians of over ₦700,000 under the guise of securing police constable recruitment slots.

The officers identified in the allegations are Inspector Usman Mohammed and SP Nura.

The victims alleged that the officers collected the money in batches during the 2023/2024 police constable recruitment exercise, promising to secure employment for them in the Nigeria Police Force.

One of the victims, Muhammad, a native of Niger State currently residing in Kano, narrated how the ordeal began to an online newspaper, Sahara Reporters.

“My two younger brothers applied for police constable recruitment in 2023 into the 2024 recruitment exercise,” he said.

According to him, after submitting their applications, his brothers were introduced to a man identified as Usman, who allegedly claimed he could facilitate their recruitment into the force.

“He told them he would help them secure slots in the police constable recruitment and asked them to start paying money. He did not request the full amount at once. Instead, he would say, ‘Pay ₦20,000 each today, pay ₦10,000 tomorrow, pay ₦15,000,’ and that was how the payments started gradually,” Muhammad explained.

The payments reportedly continued in instalments over several months.

In November 2024, Muhammad said he was also drawn into the arrangement after being told there was still a vacancy.

“They called me and said there was still a vacancy and that if I was interested, they could add me so that we would be three. At that time, I was serving in Kano State and was not even in Niger State,” he said.

After completing his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), he transferred ₦50,000 as part of the recruitment deal. He said he still has his receipt, adding that his brothers also made multiple payments.

However, when the official recruitment process was concluded and successful candidates shortlisted and trained, none of the three brothers secured employment.

“Later, the recruitment was conducted and people were shortlisted and passed out, but nothing happened for us. Up till now, none of the three of us has secured a slot,” he said.

According to Muhammad, when they calculated all the money paid in different tranches, the total exceeded ₦700,000.

“When we calculated all the money paid, it was over ₦700,000. We agreed to leave it at ₦700,000, even though it was more than that,” he stated.

He added that from the beginning, they were assured that if the recruitment failed, their money would be refunded.

“From the beginning, they promised that if they could not secure the job for us, they would refund our money,” he said.

After the exercise ended without their names appearing on the list of successful candidates, the brothers demanded a refund. According to him, the officers allegedly began to delay payment with repeated promises.

“We contacted them and demanded a refund. They promised to pay us the following week, then said Monday, and kept postponing the payment. Up till now, they have not refunded the money,” he added.