Public affairs analyst Adewole Kehinde has assured Nigerians that the ongoing and upcoming recruitment exercises under the leadership of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, will be fully transparent, professionally conducted, and rigorously screened to prevent criminal infiltration.
Kehinde’s remarks come in response to comments credited to former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ahmed Idris Wase, alleging that “Boko Haram members and armed robbers were found on Army and Police recruitment lists.” He described such insinuations as unfounded and emphasised that the Nigeria Police Force under IGP Egbetokun has instituted strong safeguards to protect the integrity of the recruitment process.
He stated firmly that no Boko Haram member, armed robber, or any criminal element would ever make the police recruitment list under the current leadership, stressing that the Force had strengthened its vetting mechanisms beyond previous standards.
Kehinde highlighted that the recently upgraded National Criminal Database Centre at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, would play a pivotal role in the screening process. According to him, the enhanced database provides real-time criminal background checks capable of flagging individuals with suspicious records or pending cases.
“With this upgraded system, unfit and unqualified candidates will never slip into the security services. The screening process is now more sophisticated, more coordinated, and more reliable than ever before,” he said.
He further commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for declaring a security emergency and approving an additional 20,000 police personnel recruitment, bringing the total number of new officers to 50,000. Kehinde said the President’s intervention demonstrates a genuine commitment to improving national security and strengthening the manpower capacity of the Nigeria Police Force ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Kehinde urged Nigerians to disregard politically motivated claims and trust the ongoing reforms within the Police Force, noting that the leadership of IGP Egbetokun has shown clear dedication to professionalism, accountability, and national security.
