A leaked telephone conversation obtained by SaharaReporters has exposed fresh allegations of corruption, extortion, arbitrary postings and poor welfare within the Nigeria Police Force, particularly involving officers serving under the 32 Police Mobile Force (PMF) Squadron in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.
In the emotional audio recording, a visibly distressed police officer accused a senior administrative officer identified simply as “Chinedu” of allegedly exploiting rank-and-file personnel through illegal payments, manipulating postings, withholding allowances and creating conditions that have left many officers impoverished and emotionally broken.
The officer further alleged that the administrative practices within the squadron had contributed to the deaths and deteriorating health of several officers.
The recording surfaced amid growing complaints by police personnel over alleged exploitation of officers drafted for special operations and private security duties across Nigeria.
According to the officer, he has served in the 32 PMF Squadron for 15 years and has repeatedly resisted pressure to pay bribes for favourable postings.
“Since I came to 32 PMF, this is my 15th year. If Chinedu sees me, he sees the highest devil because I don’t support what he is doing. I can’t give anybody money to post me to a better place,” he said.
He alleged that officers who refused to pay monthly kickbacks were deliberately transferred from lucrative duty posts and replaced by those willing to make regular payments.
“But because of selfish interest, because he wants to sell the slot, he sold my slot to somebody for N10,000. Every month, they will be giving him N10,000 out of N40,000,” the officer alleged.
The policeman also claimed that many officers assigned to special operations in Benue State were deployed without adequate notice, preventing them from taking personal belongings or preparing for the assignment.
He said he was transferred abruptly while recovering from poisoning and arrived at the operation with only one police uniform.
“They brought me here without anything apart from the uniform I’m wearing and my small bag. No mosquito net, no stove, no bedsheet, nothing. My things are still where I was working,” he lamented.
According to him, officers are routinely removed from duty locations without explanation while others allegedly pay to remain in lucrative assignments for years.
“There are many of our people outside there, five years, six years, they have not come back because they are giving him money,” he said.
The officer further alleged that the system has impoverished many personnel.
“Many inspectors are stranded. Instead of receiving even up to N50,000, they receive N10,000, some N3,000 or N4,000 out of over N200,000 meant for them every month,” the officer said.
He claimed the situation had pushed many officers into debt and psychological distress.
“Chinedu has caused many of our officers’ deaths. He has caused many people high blood pressure. Many have become debtors because of this system,” he alleged.
The officer also linked the death of one of his colleagues to the alleged corrupt posting arrangement.
“Look at the one who died yesterday; he was my batchmate, Batch 30, 2002. He had four children. He paid money to retain his posting. He became seriously ill with high blood pressure and died,” he claimed.
Although SaharaReporters could not independently verify the allegation or establish any direct connection between the officer’s death and the administrative decisions referenced in the recording, the claim reflects the depth of frustration expressed in the leaked conversation.
Throughout the recording, the officer repeatedly appealed to God and declared his determination to expose what he described as entrenched corruption despite the risks.
“If only the truth will take away my remaining years in this job, I will stand for the truth,” he declared.
He also appealed to the newly appointed commander of the squadron to investigate the allegations and reform the system.
“I will talk to this new commander. God has been giving me the words to tell him,” he said.
The latest allegations add to previous complaints by police personnel obtained by SaharaReporters accusing senior officers in Ebonyi State of diverting allowances paid by companies and organisations for officers on special duties, delaying payments, manipulating deployment rosters and maintaining ghost personnel on government-funded security details.
The whistleblowers had also called on the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to investigate the administration of police operations in Ebonyi State, alleging widespread financial irregularities affecting officers’ welfare.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force has not publicly responded to the specific allegations contained in the leaked recording.
Efforts by SaharaReporters to obtain comments from the Ebonyi State Police Command, were unsuccessful as the Command’s spokesperson SP Joshua Ukandu, did not take his calls as at the time of filing this report.
(SaharaReporters)