The Police Service Commission (PSC) has warned prospective police recruits against falling victim to misinformation and fraudsters after a fake shortlist of candidates allegedly invited for medical examination surfaced online.
The Commission described the list currently circulating on social media as false and misleading, stressing that no shortlist for medical screening has been released in respect of the ongoing police recruitment exercise.
Speaking on the development, the Head of Protocol and Public Affairs of the Commission, Torty Kalu, urged applicants and members of the public to disregard the publication and rely only on official communication from the PSC.
“The attention of the Commission has been drawn to a fake list currently circulating on social media and purporting to be a shortlist of candidates scheduled for medical examination. We wish to state categorically that no such shortlist has been released,” Kalu said.
He explained that the evaluation of the written examination conducted for applicants was still at its concluding stage, noting that successful candidates would be duly informed once the process was completed.
“The assessment of the written examination is still being concluded. Applicants who qualify for the next stage of the recruitment process will be notified through the appropriate channels in the coming days,” he stated.
Kalu disclosed that invitations for medical examination would be communicated directly to successful applicants through email, SMS, the official recruitment portal and other verified PSC communication platforms.
“When the time comes, invitations for medical examination will be sent through email, SMS, the recruitment portal and other official communication channels of the Commission. Applicants should therefore disregard any information from unofficial sources,” he said.
The PSC spokesman reiterated the Commission’s commitment to conducting a transparent and merit-driven recruitment exercise, insisting that only qualified candidates would progress through the various stages of the process.
“The Commission remains firmly committed to a merit-based recruitment process. We believe that the effectiveness and professionalism of the Nigeria Police Force depend largely on the quality of personnel recruited into the service,” Kalu added.
He also warned applicants to be wary of fraudsters seeking to exploit the recruitment exercise for personal gain.
“Applicants should remain vigilant and avoid individuals or groups claiming they can influence the recruitment process. All stages of the recruitment exercise are transparent and based strictly on merit,” he said.
Kalu further emphasized that the ongoing police recruitment exercise remains completely free of charge.
“We wish to reiterate that the recruitment process is entirely free. No applicant is required to pay any fee at any stage of the exercise. Anyone demanding payment is a fraudster and should be reported to the appropriate authorities,” he warned.
The Commission urged applicants to remain patient and await official updates while assuring them that all communications regarding the recruitment exercise would be disseminated exclusively through verified PSC platforms.
“We encourage applicants to remain calm and await official communication. The Commission will continue to provide timely updates through its verified channels to ensure a transparent and credible recruitment process,” Kalu said.
