“We paid over ₦700,000” – Job seekers accuse law enforcement officials of recruitment rip-off in Niger state

Two serving law enforcement officials hooked up to the state prison investigation and intelligence division (SCIID) on the Niger state police command headquarters in Dutsen Kura, Minna, have been accused of defrauding three younger Nigerians of over ₦700,000 underneath the guise of securing police constable recruitment slots.

The officers named within the allegations are Inspector Usman Mohammed and SP Nura.

The victims, who spoke in interviews, alleged that the officers collected the cash in batches through the 2023/2024 police constable recruitment train, promising to safe employment for them within the Nigeria Police Drive.

Muhammad, one of many victims and a local of Niger state presently residing in Kano, stated the ordeal started after his two youthful brothers utilized for recruitment in 2023 into the 2024 train.

“My two youthful brothers utilized for police constable recruitment in 2023 into the 2024 recruitment train,” he stated.

In keeping with him, after submitting their purposes, his brothers have been launched to a person recognized as Usman, who allegedly claimed he may facilitate their recruitment into the pressure.

“He advised them he would assist them safe slots within the police constable recruitment and requested them to start out paying cash.

“He didn’t request the complete quantity directly. As an alternative, he would say, ‘Pay ₦20,000 every at present, pay ₦10,000 tomorrow, pay ₦15,000,’ and that was how the funds began regularly,” Muhammad stated.

Muhammad stated the funds continued in instalments over a number of months, including that in November 2024, he was knowledgeable that there was nonetheless a emptiness and was requested if he wished to be included.

“They referred to as me and stated there was nonetheless a emptiness and that if I used to be , they might add me in order that we’d be three. At the moment, I used to be serving in Kano state and was not even in Niger state,” he stated.

Muhammad stated after finishing his Nationwide Youth Service Corps (NYSC), he transferred ₦50,000 as a part of the association, including that his brothers additionally made a number of funds.

He stated when the official recruitment course of was concluded and profitable candidates shortlisted and skilled, not one of the three secured employment.

“Later, the recruitment was carried out and other people have been shortlisted and handed out, however nothing occurred for us. Up until now, not one of the three of us has secured a slot,” he stated.

Muhammad stated once they calculated the overall quantity paid in several tranches, it exceeded ₦700,000.

“After we calculated all the cash paid, it was over ₦700,000. We agreed to go away it at ₦700,000, regardless that it was greater than that,” he said.

He stated they have been assured from the start that the cash could be refunded if the recruitment didn’t work out.

“From the start, they promised that if they might not safe the job for us, they’d refund our cash,” he stated.

Muhammad alleged that after their names failed to look on the listing of profitable candidates, the officers started to delay cost.

“We contacted them and demanded a refund. They promised to pay us the next week, then stated Monday, and saved suspending the cost. Up until now, they haven’t refunded the cash,” he stated.

Copies of receipts exhibiting funds made in batches, in addition to alleged phone conversations linking the officers to the transactions, have been made accessible.

The funds have been reportedly paid into a number of accounts, together with these bearing the identify Usman Mohammed and different people, by Moniepoint and OPay platforms.