Nigerian police officers deployed to Zamfara State, one of the country’s most dangerous banditry hotspots, have raised the alarm over what they described as inhumane living conditions, revealing that they sleep on thin mats and cartons spread across dusty floors in a dilapidated building while carrying out security operations in the North-West state.
The officers, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation, shared a video showing their accommodation, exposing the difficult conditions faced by security personnel deployed to confront heavily armed bandits and protect vulnerable communities.
“This is how police officers transferred to the northern part of the country are made to sleep. This particular video is from Zamfara State, and the conditions are even better than in most other places where our colleagues are camping,” one of the officers said.
A 62-second video shows a deteriorating hall converted into a dormitory for police personnel deployed to the state.
The footage captures officers sleeping on thin mats and flattened cartons placed directly on cracked and dusty floors. Tattered mosquito nets hang from rusted iron frames, providing little protection, while bags, uniforms and other personal belongings are scattered around the sleeping area.
The officers said the accommodation lacks basic facilities, including beds, lockers, electric fans and adequate ventilation, despite the extreme heat and high prevalence of malaria in the area.
Another officer lamented that personnel had been sent away from their families to protect lives and property without being provided with decent accommodation.
“We left our families down South to come and protect lives here but look at where we sleep. Mosquitoes will finish us before bandits even come. No bed, we are sleeping on the floor. Government should help us,” the officer said.
The complaints have renewed concerns over the welfare of rank-and-file personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, particularly officers deployed to conflict-affected states where they face the daily risks of armed attacks, ambushes and other security threats.
Zamfara has remained one of the epicentres of armed banditry in North-West Nigeria for more than a decade, with heavily armed groups operating from vast forest reserves and carrying out mass kidnappings, village raids, killings and cattle rustling.
The persistent insecurity has forced successive governments and security authorities to deploy thousands of police officers, including Mobile Police personnel, special forces and officers assigned to special operations, to Zamfara and neighbouring states such as Katsina, Sokoto and Kaduna.
The deployments have included operations such as Operation Puff Adder and other security initiatives aimed at dismantling criminal networks, rescuing abducted victims and restoring security to affected communities.
However, officers deployed from other parts of the country, particularly Southern commands, have repeatedly complained about inadequate accommodation, delayed allowances and poor logistical support.
Unlike soldiers stationed at established military facilities and forward operating bases, police personnel deployed for special assignments are often reportedly accommodated in abandoned schools, local government secretariats and uncompleted buildings that lack basic sleeping arrangements and other essential amenities.
Some officers have also complained about the absence of adequate feeding arrangements, forcing personnel to shoulder expenses despite being deployed to carry out official security duties in dangerous environments.
Previous reports have highlighted complaints by police officers deployed to the North-East to combat Boko Haram insurgents, with personnel reportedly sleeping in classrooms, purchasing their own uniforms and boots, and experiencing delays in the payment of risk allowances.
The latest complaints come against the backdrop of substantial public spending approved for police operations, infrastructure, training and personnel-related needs.
On July 9, 2026, the Senate approved a combined allocation of ₦403.1 billion for the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF) for the 2025 and 2026 fiscal years.
The approval comprised ₦170.10 billion for 2025 and ₦233.96 billion for 2026, following the presentation of a report by the Senate Committee on Police Affairs.
The report was presented by the committee’s Vice Chairman, Senator Yunus Akintunde, representing Oyo Central Senatorial District, on behalf of the chairman, Senator Abdulhamid Mallam Madori, representing Jigawa East.
The funds are intended to strengthen police operations through the procurement of operational vehicles and modern equipment, rehabilitation of police stations and barracks, and specialised training and retraining of personnel.
Of the ₦233.96 billion approved for the Police Trust Fund in 2026, ₦222.89 billion was allocated to capital expenditure, while ₦11.07 billion was earmarked for recurrent expenditure.
The capital allocation comprises ₦43.78 billion for direct capital projects and ₦179.11 billion for the headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force and the trust fund.
The recurrent component includes ₦1.86 billion for personnel costs and ₦9.21 billion for overhead expenses.
For the 2025 fiscal year, the Senate approved ₦170.10 billion, comprising ₦159.74 billion for capital expenditure and ₦10.36 billion for recurrent expenditure.
The 2025 capital allocation included ₦27.29 billion for the Police Trust Fund headquarters and ₦132.45 billion for the Nigeria Police Force.
The recurrent component comprised ₦1.82 billion for personnel costs and ₦8.54 billion for overheads.
The trust fund is expected to receive revenue from statutory sources, including 0.5 per cent of the total revenue accruing to the Federation Account, 0.5 per cent of Value Added Tax and 0.05 per cent of the net profits of companies operating in Nigeria.
Other expected sources of funding include international grants, donations and other legitimate revenue streams.
During consideration of the fund’s allocations, the Senate urged its management to prioritise personnel welfare and critical infrastructure, while calling for strict monitoring and evaluation to prevent waste and ensure value for money.
Despite the substantial sums approved for the trust fund, the conditions described by the officers in Zamfara raise questions about the provision of basic accommodation and welfare facilities for personnel deployed to some of the country’s most dangerous security environments.
The 2026 Appropriation Act also provides approximately ₦1.335 trillion for the Federal Ministry of Police Affairs and its agencies, according to figures on page 326 of the legislation.
The exact allocation is ₦1,334,911,895,117, covering personnel costs, overheads and capital expenditure.
Of this amount, approximately ₦1.189 trillion is allocated to personnel costs, while ₦83.58 billion is earmarked for overheads and ₦61.46 billion for capital expenditure.
The figures indicate that personnel costs account for the largest share of the ministry’s overall budget, covering salaries and related expenses.
The budget identifies three major components under the ministry: its headquarters, the Nigeria Police Academy in Wudil, Kano State, and police formations and commands.
The Federal Ministry of Police Affairs headquarters has an allocation of approximately ₦11.15 billion, comprising ₦3.35 billion for personnel costs, ₦1.24 billion for overheads and ₦6.55 billion for capital expenditure.
The Nigeria Police Academy in Wudil, Kano State, has an allocation of approximately ₦16.77 billion.
Its budget comprises ₦3.26 billion for personnel costs, ₦11.15 billion for overheads and ₦6.35 billion for capital expenditure. The funding covers the academy’s staffing, operating expenses and capital requirements associated with its activities, including police training.
Police formations and commands account for approximately ₦1.302 trillion, making them the largest component of the ministry’s allocation.
The breakdown comprises approximately ₦1.183 trillion for personnel costs, ₦71.18 billion for overheads and ₦48.55 billion for capital expenditure.
This allocation covers the operational structure of the Nigeria Police Force, including its various formations and commands across the country.
The figures show that the bulk of the ministry’s funding is directed towards police formations and commands, with personnel costs representing the largest expenditure category.
However, the allocation breakdown does not, by itself, establish how much has been released or spent specifically on accommodation for officers deployed to Zamfara, nor does it establish whether funds intended for their welfare have been properly utilised.
The officers’ accounts have therefore brought renewed attention to the need for transparency in the implementation of police welfare and infrastructure budgets, particularly for personnel serving in high-risk areas.
For officers confronting armed groups in remote and volatile locations, access to safe accommodation, adequate bedding, mosquito protection, ventilation and other basic necessities remains an important part of operational welfare.
The situation described in Zamfara also raises questions about the monitoring of police deployments and whether the authorities responsible for personnel welfare are ensuring that officers sent to frontline assignments receive the minimum facilities required to live and work safely.
As the Federal Government continues to commit substantial public funds to police operations, infrastructure and reform, the conditions captured in the video highlight the concerns of officers who say they are expected to protect lives and property while struggling to secure decent sleeping arrangements for themselves.
The Nigeria Police Force and the relevant authorities have yet to publicly address the specific accommodation complaints contained in the video.