|
VeryDarkMan (VDM) |
The Nigeria Police Force has publicly challenged social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), to produce evidence supporting his claim that police officers at highway checkpoints pass information about travellers to kidnappers and bandits.
The Force made the demand in a statement issued on Thursday by its Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu. The statement followed comments VDM allegedly made at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
According to the police, VDM claimed that officers manning checkpoints on major highways identify wealthy travellers and relay their details and movements to criminal gangs, thereby facilitating abductions for ransom. The Force described the allegation as serious but completely unsubstantiated.
“The Nigeria Police Force firmly rejects these allegations as unsubstantiated and unfairly damaging to an institution responsible for protecting millions of Nigerians,” the statement said.
The police explained that personnel deployed to checkpoints and other locations across the country are tasked with preventing crime, detecting criminal activities and protecting citizens. Officers, the Force noted, routinely confront the same criminal elements they are accused of assisting. Many have been ambushed, attacked and killed in the line of duty, while police stations and operational assets have also come under attack by terrorists, kidnappers and other violent groups.
The Force argued that sweeping accusations against the entire institution are unfair to the majority of officers who serve under difficult, underfunded and dangerous conditions. It stressed that individual officers found to have compromised their duties would face the full weight of internal disciplinary processes and the law.
However, it insisted that the entire police institution should not be condemned on the basis of public statements made without evidence.
In a direct challenge, the police invited VDM to submit any evidence in his possession. Specifically, they asked him to provide proof that officers at checkpoints identify wealthy individuals and transmit information about them to kidnappers for the purpose of facilitating abductions.
“Any such information will be treated with urgency and investigated thoroughly,” the Force stated.
The police also encouraged members of the public who have credible evidence of officer misconduct to report through official channels rather than through public platforms. It reiterated its commitment to transparency and accountability, saying it would continue to investigate genuine allegations of misconduct regardless of how they arise.
At the same time, the Force warned against the spread of unverified claims that could undermine public trust in security institutions and affect national security. It urged Nigerians to distinguish between legitimate criticism, which strengthens accountability, and unsubstantiated allegations that erode confidence in the police.
The exchange highlights the ongoing tension between social media activism and official security institutions in Nigeria, particularly on sensitive issues such as kidnapping and the integrity of security personnel. While public figures like VDM often raise concerns that resonate with citizens, the police maintain that serious allegations must be backed by concrete evidence before they can be acted upon.
The Force said it remains open to investigating any credible information submitted by VDM or any other member of the public.