The Police Command in Gombe State has said about 17,800 applicants were shortlisted for screening in the ongoing 2023/2024 police recruitment exercise in the state.

The command’s Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mahid Abubakar, said this in an interview with journalists on Wednesday in Gombe.

Mr Abubakar said about 2,000 applicants were screened so far, assuring that others would be screened before the deadline.

He said the police recruitment board had approved the screening of successful applicants for recruitment into the constable cadre.

Mr Abubakar explained that those shortlisted were 2022 candidates who filled their forms in 2023.

“So far so good the Gombe State Police command has been able to commence this exercise on the scheduled date which is Monday. That’s the 2022 recruitment because it’s just like a carry-over. They filled their forms last year 2023 and here we are today to screen 17,800 candidates who have been shortlisted. We have so far screened about 1,900 to 2,000. They have finished documentation,” he said.

On the number of applicants to be employed by the police in the state, Mr Abubakar said that would be determined by the recruitment board.

On efforts to ensure that only certified and qualified applicants were screened, the police spokesperson said all necessary educational and other qualifications were being duly verified.

“We are picking the most qualified; as you can see the exercise is purely free. The Commissioner of Police, Hayatu Usman, following directives has been addressing the candidates since Monday till date,” he said.

(NAN)