Two serving police officers attached to the state criminal investigation and intelligence department (SCIID) at the Niger state police command headquarters in Dutsen Kura, Minna, have been accused of defrauding three young Nigerians of over ₦700,000.
This was under the guise of securing police constable recruitment slots. The officers named in the allegations are Inspector Usman Mohammed and SP Nura.
The victims, who spoke in interviews, 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.
Muhammad, one of the victims and a native of Niger state currently residing in Kano, said the ordeal began after his two younger brothers applied for recruitment in 2023 into the 2024 exercise.
“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 said.
Muhammad said the payments continued in instalments over several months, adding that in November 2024, he was informed that there was still a vacancy and was asked if he wanted to be included.
“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.
Muhammad said after completing his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), he transferred ₦50,000 as part of the arrangement, adding that his brothers also made multiple payments.
He said when the official recruitment process was concluded and successful candidates shortlisted and trained, none of the three 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.
Muhammad said when they calculated the total amount paid in different tranches, it 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 said they were assured from the beginning that the money would be refunded if the recruitment did not work out.
“From the beginning, they promised that if they could not secure the job for us, they would refund our money,” he said.
Muhammad alleged that after their names failed to appear on the list of successful candidates, the officers began to delay payment.
“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 said.
Copies of receipts showing payments made in batches, as well as alleged telephone conversations linking the officers to the transactions, were made available.
The funds were reportedly paid into multiple accounts, including those bearing the name Usman Mohammed and other individuals, through Moniepoint and OPay platforms.
(Politis Nigeria)
