The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed claims that officers were forced to buy the “Attitudinal Change Handbook for the Nigeria Police Force” at ₦2,000 per copy.

An online report had suggested that police authorities made the purchase compulsory with a Thursday deadline. The Force, however, says the report is misleading.

A letter dated May 28, 2025, from the Department of Training and Development at Force Headquarters, Abuja, introduced the author, Dr. Joseph Danley, and approved him to market the book directly to interested officers.

The letter, signed by Commissioner of Police (Training) Rashid Afegbua on behalf of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, clarified that purchasing the handbook was voluntary.

“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 document partly read.

Force Confirms Voluntary Purchase

Force Public Relations Officer Benjamin Hundeyin explained that no command has compelled any officer to buy the book.

“I have conducted my findings, and no command has forced the book on any officer. Maybe one officer somewhere made it compulsory, and that should be reported to us, not to the media,” he said.

Dr. Danley also clarified the initiative’s intent. He said the handbook aims to improve professionalism and ethics within the police force.

Initially, a training program linked to the book was proposed at ₦25,000 per participant, but Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun approved it free, allowing the book to be sold only to those willing to buy.

“I have flown to some states to deliver the book, and those who wanted to buy did, while I picked up the remaining. So, I don’t know why there are claims that my book is being forced on the officers,” Danley said.

The clarification comes at a time of other allegation of some officers who were pressured to make payments against their will.