Precious Nwonu, Enugu
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has completely dismissed a fraudulent social media advertisement instructing prospective Police Constable recruits to report to training camps on September 18, 2026.
In a formal disclaimer posted to its official X handle on Wednesday, the police high command declared that the viral notification did not originate from its administrative departments and warned all applicants to ignore it entirely.
“The Nigeria Police Force has observed a publication circulating on social media purportedly emanating from the Force, directing prospective Police Constable recruits to report for training on 18th September 2026,” the police statement revealed. “The Nigeria Police Force wishes to state that the said publication is not an official communication of the Force and should be disregarded.”
The forged circular, heavily backdated to September 1, 2026, was systematically designed to mimic legitimate police stationery. It falsely instructed prospective trainees to bring specific personal belongings, including white canvas shoes and bedding, to various state commands across the country. Online images of the counterfeit document have since been marked with a bold “FAKE” stamp by the Force.
To prevent candidates from falling victim to scams, the police management provided clear directions on how authentic updates would be delivered.
“All prospective trainees are advised to rely solely on information communicated through their respective recruitment portals and the official communication channels of the Nigeria Police Force for verified and authentic updates regarding the recruitment and training exercise,” the NPF added.
Additionally, the law enforcement agency pleaded with citizens to stop sharing unverified, deceptive posts that could cause mass panic, confusion, or exploit hopeful recruits.
This security alert coincides with an active, large-scale federal initiative to inject 50,000 newly recruited Police Constables into the NPF. Ordered by President Bola Tinubu in late 2025, the recruitment push aims to tackle the nation’s security challenges and fix severe manpower shortages.