The Ivorian National Gendarmerie has expelled 102 students from the basic joint training courses at its schools in Toroguhé, near Daloa, and Agbékoi, in Abidjan, following medical and toxicological tests, according to a statement released on Sunday, October 18.
The measure concerns 62 recruits registered in Toroguhé and 40 others trained in Agbékoi. The institution indicates that the examinations revealed the consumption of prohibited substances prior to their enlistment and specifies that the incidents did not occur within the establishments.
Édiémou Blin Jacob, a prominent figure of Celestial Christianity in Côte d’Ivoire, has diedThe statement specifically mentions tramadol and its derivatives, cannabis, cocaine, and other psychotropic substances. It does not provide the identities of the students involved nor the exact schedule of the tests.
The dismissal occurs before the final integration of the recruits. The Gendarmerie reminds that passing the exam does not guarantee irrevocable admission, while the Ivorian Ministry of Defense presents the medical examination as one of the three elimination stages of the recruitment process.
The ministry’s portal specifies that this medical examination seeks to identify conditions incompatible with the profession of gendarme. It lists two national schools, the one in Abidjan and the one in Toroguhé, the latter being responsible for training non-commissioned officers for two years.
A similar measure had already affected more than 120 new recruits in June 2025, following medical re-examinations whose results were confirmed positive for drugs, according to the Ivorian Press Agency. This previous wave is distinct from the 102 dismissals announced in October 2026.
The Gendarmerie indicates that toxicological tests are complemented by background investigations to verify the candidates’ suitability and their compliance with the profession’s requirements. It also asks families to ensure that the necessary conditions are met before incurring expenses for exam preparation.
