Recruits at the Nigeria Police Force Training School in Yelwa, Bauchi State, have raised concerns that they are being forced to pay up to N250,000 for uniforms, boots, and other essential kits — items that are supposed to be provided free of charge.
Some recruits, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the financial burden as unbearable, placing serious strain on themselves and their families. One legal practitioner, Barrister Lawal Ishaq, sounded the alarm after a woman approached him seeking help for her son, who is currently in training.
“I was shocked,” Ishaq said. “A newly recruited constable called his mother asking for N250,000 to buy uniforms, boots, and jackets. These are items that should have been provided. The pressure on families is real.”
Several recruits confirmed that while the school provides uniform materials, the quality is often poor. Many are forced to purchase multiple sets or have them tailored at their own expense to meet the training standards. “What they give us only lasts a few months,” one recruit said. “If you don’t buy new sets, you risk jeopardizing your training.”
Boots, they added, are usually issued only upon graduation, leaving them with no choice but to buy their own. They also said they were barred from sourcing uniforms outside the school, forcing compliance with the directive. Many described the N250,000 figure as “exorbitant” and a heavy burden on their families.
The school, however, strongly denied the allegations. Assistant Commissioner of Police Abdullahi Umar Tambuwal, Commandant of the Bauchi Police Training School, insisted that all uniforms and kits are issued free of charge, and that recruits also receive three square meals daily.
“With over 700 recruits in training, it is unrealistic to suggest that officers could extort such sums,” Tambuwal said. “If any officer is found guilty, they will be sanctioned. Parents and recruits should ignore these false claims.”
He also assured that the allegations would be thoroughly investigated, emphasizing that the school adheres strictly to established procedures for issuing uniforms and kits.
The conflicting accounts leave families and recruits concerned about transparency and fairness in the training process, highlighting the challenges faced by young Nigerians entering the police force.
