A police officer serving in the Borno State Police Command, Mohammad Muhammad, has earned public admiration after returning N2.6 million that was mistakenly transferred into his bank account.
Gatekeepers News reports that the incident, which happened around 6pm on Thursday, quickly drew attention after it was shared on social media. Nahum Daso, the police spokesperson in the state, reposted the story on Facebook and praised the officer for his honesty and strong moral values.
In the post, Bello Jafar, who first shared the story, described Muhammad as a customer of United Bank for Africa (UBA) who displayed rare integrity by refusing to keep money that did not belong to him.
“I would like to formally express my appreciation for Mohammad Alhaji Muhammad, a loyal customer of United Bank for Africa (UBA) and a police officer of exceptional integrity,” Jafar wrote.
“His conduct reflects the true values expected of a police officer and serves as an example worthy of recognition and commendation. Acts like this strengthen public trust and highlight the importance of integrity in both professional and personal life.”
Speaking on the matter, Daso explained that the officer became worried when he noticed the unexpected deposit alert. Realising that the funds were not meant for him, Muhammad immediately contacted his account manager to report the issue.
“The officer saw the money and was surprised because he was not expecting that amount. So he reached out to his account manager, who advised him to come to the bank,” Daso said.
“When he got there, he was asked to fill a form for the reversal, and the money was returned.”
Daso added that bank officials were impressed by the officer’s decision, noting that many people in similar situations often spend such funds instead of reporting the error.
“The bank staff said they were shocked because in most cases, people quickly use such money for personal gain. What the officer did clearly shows integrity and honesty,” he said.
The development has continued to attract praise from members of the public, civil society groups, and security stakeholders, who described the act as a positive example of ethical conduct within the police force.
Many have called on authorities to formally recognise and reward the officer to encourage similar behaviour across public service.
