Police Deny Forcing Officers to Buy ?2,000 ‘Attitudinal Change’ Handbook

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has dismissed reports alleging that it compelled its personnel to purchase a handbook titled “Attitudinal Change Handbook for the Nigeria Police Force” for ?2,000.

The online report had claimed that the Force directed all officers nationwide to buy the publication, making the purchase mandatory with a payment deadline.

However, documents sighted on Monday showed that the approval for the handbook’s distribution came through a letter dated May 28, 2025, from the Department of Training and Development, Force Headquarters, Abuja.

The letter, signed by the Commissioner of Police (Training), Rashid Afegbua, on behalf of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, stated that the author, Dr. Joseph Danley, was only granted permission to market the handbook directly to interested officers.

“I am directed to introduce Dr. Joseph Danley, author of the handbook ‘Attitudinal Change for Nigeria Police Force,’ and convey the approval of the Inspector-General of Police to enable him to directly market the handbook to interested Police Officers who may wish to voluntarily procure same,” the circular read in part.

Reacting to the report, Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Benjamin Hundeyin, described the claims as false and misleading, stressing that the book’s purchase was entirely voluntary.

“The correspondence from the Force Headquarters made it clear that the book should be sold to interested officers only. I have conducted my findings, and no command has made the purchase compulsory.
If any officer somewhere did that, it should be reported through the proper channel,” Hundeyin said.

The author, Dr. Danley, said the initiative aimed to promote professionalism, discipline, and ethics within the Force.

He explained that he had earlier proposed a paid training programme for officers, but the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, approved that the training should be free, while officers could voluntarily buy the handbook.

“We sent a proposal to reorient the mindset of officers. Initially, we charged ?25,000 per participant, but the IGP said there was no funding for that. So, he approved that the book be sold voluntarily, while the seminar remains free,” Danley said.

He added that he personally delivered copies to several police commands across the country, where interested officers bought them willingly.

“I have been to some states to deliver the book. Those who wanted to buy did so, while I took back the rest. So, I don’t know where the claim of compulsion is coming from,” he stated.

The clarification comes amid growing concerns over reports that some police officers were allegedly being coerced into making unauthorized payments.