News
FFS Warns of Employment Racketeers, Threatens to Prosecute those with Fake Employment Letters
FFS Warns of Employment Racketeers, Threatens to Prosecute those with Fake Employment Letters
By: Michael Mike
The leadership of the Federal Fire Service (FFS) has issued a stern warning to desperate job seekers, stating that should be wary of employment racketeers who are out to defraud many with fake employment letters of the organisation.
The FFS boss, Engr Abdulganiyu Jaji, also warned the employment racketeers and those patronizing them to desist from the fraudulent activities of dragging the name of the Service through the mud, as there is an ongoing manhunt for them.
Abdulganiyu, in a statement on Monday, expressed deep concern over the rising cases of job racketeering involving unscrupulous agents who deceive desperate job seekers with fake appointment and invitation letters.
The CG emphasised that it never and will never authorise any third parties to conduct recruitment on its behalf and reiterated that all official processes are handled transparently through recognised government platforms.
Furthermore, the FFS boss made it clear that anyone caught presenting forged documents in a bid to secure employment will face immediate arrest and prosecution. The service lamented the damage such actions inflict on its credibility and the emotional and financial toll they take on victims.
He said: “Let me shock you, the Federal Fire Service, through its vigilant oversight, uncovered five names of desperate job seekers who managed to insert themselves into the IPPIS list without having any original invitation or appointment letters.
“On behalf of the Board, I challenge anyone in possession of a genuine appointment letter who claims to have been unjustly denied the opportunity to come forward with it.”
“The truth is, we were extremely thorough with the entire recruitment process. In fact, we went as far as inviting those individuals who illicitly made it onto the IPPIS platform, and they openly confessed to engaging in underground dealings. Every possible loophole was sealed—we meticulously cross-checked the original master list against both the final documented list and the IPPIS entries.
“Interestingly, when we uncovered and seized several of these fake letters, we made the strategic decision to quietly suspend the documentation process without any public announcement. To our surprise, the fraudsters—completely unaware of our move—went ahead and printed even more fake letters. We could only watch and laugh, knowing they had already exposed themselves.”
Jaji, who reaffirmed the service commitment to integrity, called on the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities. He further assured that genuine opportunities within the agency will always be publicly announced through proper, verifiable channels
He said: “Each time we are made aware of the alarming rise in fake recruitment activities being carried out by fraudsters, we take it upon ourselves to promptly alert Nigerians—particularly desperate job seekers—that these fraudulent recruitment claims into the Service are not from us. We strongly warn the public to be cautious and avoid engaging with these scammers who falsely present themselves as representatives of the Federal Fire Service.
“Referring to the recently concluded recruitment exercise, it’s worth recalling that the immediate past Secretary of the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB), Ja’afaru Ahmed, issued an official statement urging candidates to check their status on the Board’s portal, cdcfib.career, on the designated date in December 2024. The Board had specifically advised applicants for the Federal Fire Service (FFS) recruitment to visit the portal to confirm their final selection and download their invitation letters directly.”
“Having made this clear, anyone claiming to have been invited for documentation but whose name does not appear on the official master list has, without a doubt, fallen victim to scammers.”
“It is disheartening that, despite repeated warnings, some job seekers continue to willingly fall into the hands of fraudsters who go as far as creating fake websites, selling bogus recruitment forms, and extorting large sums of money under the guise of processing employment.
“We have consistently emphasized—through the CDCFIB—that the entire recruitment process into the four paramilitary agencies under the Ministry of Interior is completely free, with no payments required at any stage.”
“As a matter of fact, several fake invitation letters, SMS messages, and emails were intercepted. Shockingly, even after the new Secretary of the Board assumed office, some individuals still showed up with forged letters falsely bearing the name of the former Secretary.
“It is truly disheartening that job seekers who willingly engage with individuals who call, send suspicious links via text messages, and even request payments through provided account details, later turn around to petition the Service when things go wrong.
“The Federal Fire Service, under my watch, is built on a foundation of hard-earned integrity, and we will do everything necessary to safeguard that reputation. On this note, I appeal to those with genuine complaints to support our efforts by submitting the account details, names, and phone numbers of those involved for immediate and decisive action.
“No credible government agency would issue letters of invitation to successful candidates only to turn around and cancel them. That is completely unrealistic—and let me be clear—the Federal Fire Service has never been, and will never be, involved in such misconduct.
“We have now resolved to begin arresting and publicly parading individuals who present fake invitation letters during documentation and screening exercises. Alarmingly, some even go as far as submitting forged appointment letters.
“I want to use this opportunity to appeal to job seekers, especially our hardworking youths, to remain patient. The government is actively working to create meaningful opportunities to engage them.”
“The Honourable Minister of Interior, himself a young man, is committed to ensuring that the years our youths have invested in education do not go to waste. Instead of turning to fake websites—often with suspicious phone numbers and email contacts—applicants should wait for official advertisements from the CDCFIB in national newspapers and apply only through the government-designated portal, where no payment is required at any stage.
“Finally, let me categorically state that no Federal Fire Service personnel should be patronised under any circumstance. Any candidate who chooses to do so will bear the consequences alone.”
End
Zulum begs FG not to allow Marte Fall
… Spends night coordinating security logistics
By: Our Reporter
Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has appealed to the Federal Government to deploy decisive strategies that would ensure that Marte town does not fall to Boko Haram/ISWAP insurgents.
Zulum, who was actively involved in coordinating security logistics till late in the night on Saturday, undertook a tour to assess the challenges faced in Marte, while also exploring sustainable solutions to foster stability.
Before Zulum’s arrival, Marte was completely deserted following a Boko Haram attack last Friday with thousands taking refuge in Dikwa town.
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, the governor emphasised that his visit to Marte was to foster community cooperation, resilience and continuous support to the security agencies, stating “Marte was resettled about 4 years ago, but unfortunately, over the last three days, it was ransacked and was displaced again.”
“About 20,000 people left Marte for Dikwa; this huge number is a threat as allowing them to stay in the camp may make most of the younger ones become vulnerable to recruitment by the insurgents.”
“Alhamdulillah, we returned to Marte yesterday and spent the night with the support of the Nigerian Army and our volunteers. The community is now resettled for the second time. Still, my prayers to the federal government of Nigeria and the Nigerian Army are that we do everything possible to keep this town on the ground.
“Hitherto, Marte Local Government comprises over 300 towns and villages, now we have only one standing, if we cannot maintain this one, then we will lose the whole Local Government to the insurgents, which will be very obnoxious, and I think we will not allow this to happen. Therefore, I am calling on the federal government and the Nigerian Army so that we can put heads together and hold our ground for this single town in this LGA to remain.”
The governor reiterated his commitment to supporting security agencies in attaining lasting peace in Borno State, stating “on my part as the Governor of Borno State, I would do everything within my power to support our gallant military in their efforts towards lasting peace in our beloved state.”
Zulum begs FG not to allow Marte Fall
Crime
Two Octogenarians arrested for dealing in illicit drug as NDLEA intercepts N3.2 billion worth of aploids
Two Octogenarians arrested for dealing in illicit drug as NDLEA intercepts N3.2 billion worth of aploids
By: Michael Mike
Two octogenarians: an 80-year-old grandpa Ayuba Ashiru and 82-year-old grandma Mrs. Uloma Uchechi as well as her daughter Chisom Uchechi, 32, top the list of suspects arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) in raids carried out across the country while opioids worth over N3.2 billion were intercepted at Apapa seaport in Lagos and Port Harcourt port, Onne, Rivers state.
Ayuba had previously been arrested and prosecuted by NDLEA for drug dealing offences and convicted and served 10-year jail term between 2014 and 2024.
He was again arrested last Wednesday at Barazana street, Dogarawa area of Sabon Gari local government area. Kaduna State by NDLEA officers acting on credible intelligence.
A total of 2.3 kilogrammes of skunk packaged in nylons and papers in retail sizes were recovered from him. He claimed to have been in the illicit drug trade for the past 46 years.
Similarly, NDLEA operatives in Abia state on Saturday raided the home of 82-year-old Mrs. Uloma Uchechi at Umuaguma Ntigha Uzor village where different quantities of methamphetamine, tramadol and skunk, a strain of cannabis as well as a cash exhibit of N130,600 were recovered from her and her daughter, 32-year-old Chisom Uchechi. The grandma confessed that she and her daughter took over the drug trade after her son who started the business died two years ago.
At the Port Harcourt Ports complex in Onne, Rivers state, a total 3,000,000 pills of tapentadol and carisoprodol royal 225mg worth N2.1 billion in street value were intercepted in one of the containers watch-listed by the agency based on intelligence. The seizure was made last Wednesday during a joint examination of the container by NDLEA officers, men of Customs Service and other security agencies.
NDLEA operatives also at the Apapa seaport in Lagos last Tuesday intercepted another watch-listed container declared to have new car parts and accessories from India. During a joint examination with other security agencies, a total of 169,800 bottles of codeine syrup worth over N1.1 billion in street value were discovered concealed in the shipment.
In Kwara state, no fewer than 199,200 pills of tramadol were recovered from two suspects: Abdulwahab Quadir and Abdulraheem Ismail last Friday following their arrest at Gegele area of Ilorin by NDLEA operatives who also raided Favour Lodge in the state capital where an HND 1 student of the Department of Laboratory Science Technology, Kwara State Polytechnic, Ibrahim Abdulateef was arrested with 650 grammes of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis already measured in 149 cups, which he sells to other students.
At a courier company in Lagos, NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation (DOGI) last Friday
intercepted 250 grammes of cocaine concealed in female headgear going to Australia.
In Niger state, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Mokwa-Jebba road lasr Thursday intercepted a Toyota Carina car marked AGL 945 BK conveying 316 blocks of skunk weighing 143 kilogrammes while a suspect, Idris Kamal, 35, was arrested. Same day, operatives on patrol at Chachi junction along Kaduna road arrested Emmanuel Hassan, 26, with 14.3 kilogrammes Loud. A swift follow up operation led to the arrest of the actual owner of the consignment, Bello Aliyu (alias Liti), 39.
While a 60-year-old suspect, Welman Kengbo was nabbed by NDLEA officers with 594.8 kilogrammes skunk at Karu area of Nasarawa state last Friday, another suspect Oyenuga Toheeb was arrested along Lekki/Epe expressway, Lagos last Thursday with 67.5 kilogrammes of the same psychoactive substance.
In Taraba state, 5,350 pills of tramadol and diazepam were recovered from a suspect, Shafiu Ismail, 22, when he was arrested last Thursday at Sabonlayin, Jalingo local government area, while Tijjani Mohammed, 35, was nabbed with 198 kilogrammes skunk at Malamawa, Garki local government area, Jigawa state same day.
Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Abuja – Kaduna highway last Friday intercepted a 29-year-old Ismail Isah with an AK 47 rifle and two magazines concealed in a sack of maize. He will be transferred to the appropriate security agency for further investigation.
The spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi in a statement on Sunday, said the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) social advocacy activities by NDLEA Commands equally continued across the country in the past week.
While commending the officers and men of DOGI, Abia, Kaduna, Kwara, PHIPC, Apapa, Lagos, Nasarawa, Jigawa, Taraba, and Niger commands of the agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) also praised their counterparts in all the commands across the country for pursuing a fair balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.
Two Octogenarians arrested for dealing in illicit drug as NDLEA intercepts N3.2 billion worth of aploids
News
Wanted bandit arrested at hajj camp, four other bandit set to travel to Saudi via Abuja– sources
Wanted bandit arrested at hajj camp, four other bandit set to travel to Saudi via Abuja– sources
By: Zagazola Makama
Security operatives have arrested a notorious bandit, Yahaya Zango, at the Hajj Camp in Abuja while he attempted to disguise as a pilgrim preparing for this year’s pilgrimage to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Zango, who has been on the wanted list of security agencies for alleged involvement in banditry and kidnapping across northern Nigeria, was apprehended during routine screening of intending pilgrims.
A reliable security source Zagazola Makama on Sunday that the suspect was intercepted while trying to board a bus alongside other pilgrims headed for the airport.
The source disclosed that the arrest followed credible intelligence which prompted enhanced surveillance and internal screening within the camp.
“Upon close monitoring and verification, the suspect’s identity was uncovered, and he was immediately taken into custody without incident,” the source said.
The suspect is currently undergoing interrogation while further investigations are ongoing to unravel his network and activities.
Meanwhile, impeccable sources have alleged that at least four other individuals with suspected links to banditry are currently among those listed to travel for the 2025 Hajj through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Those named include Madele, said to be the father of notorious bandit kingpin Ado Aliero; Bello Bazamfare; and a woman believed to be the mother of another infamous bandit leader, Gwaska Dankarami. One of the four is reportedly a sibling of Ado Aliero himself.
In 2024, similar concerns were raised after 14 suspected bandits were reportedly sponsored to Saudi Arabia for Hajj. Three were apprehended on their return, while one was controversially released under unclear circumstances.
Security agencies are said to be intensifying screenings and intelligence operations around this year’s pilgrimage to prevent a recurrence.
Wanted bandit arrested at hajj camp, four other bandit set to travel to Saudi via Abuja– sources
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