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The Nigeria Police Force has challenged social media personality Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), to provide evidence backing his allegation that police officers at checkpoints provide kidnappers with information about travellers to facilitate abductions.
VDM reportedly made the allegation while speaking at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, claiming that officers manning checkpoints along major highways identify wealthy travellers and subsequently relay information about their identities and movements to kidnappers and bandits.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, described the allegation as “unsubstantiated” and unfairly damaging to an institution responsible for protecting millions of Nigerians.
The police said allegations of such gravity require credible evidence, stressing that officers deployed to checkpoints and other locations nationwide are assigned to prevent crime, detect criminal activities and protect citizens.
According to the Force, police personnel at checkpoints routinely confront criminal elements, including kidnappers and terrorists, and have suffered attacks and casualties in the course of their duties.
“Police personnel have been ambushed, attacked and killed, while police stations, formations and operational assets have equally been targeted by terrorists, kidnappers and other violent criminals,” the statement said.
The Force also cautioned against what it described as blanket accusations against its personnel, saying such claims could demoralise the hundreds of thousands of officers who work under difficult and dangerous conditions.
It maintained that while individual officers found to have compromised their duties would face disciplinary measures and prosecution where necessary, the entire institution should not be condemned based on allegations made without evidence.
The police therefore invited VDM to submit whatever evidence he possesses to substantiate his claims, particularly any information showing that officers at checkpoints identify wealthy travellers and transmit their details to kidnappers to facilitate abductions.
“The Nigeria Police Force hereby invites Mr. Martins Vincent Otse to produce, without delay, the evidence upon which he based these serious allegations,” the statement said.
It assured that any credible information provided would be treated with urgency and subjected to thorough investigation.
The Force further urged members of the public who possess evidence of police misconduct to use appropriate channels to report such cases rather than relying solely on public allegations.
The police reiterated their commitment to investigating credible allegations of misconduct and taking action whenever wrongdoing is established.
It, however, warned the public against making or circulating unverified claims concerning national security institutions, saying such allegations could undermine public confidence and potentially endanger national security.
The statement was signed by CSP Ani Iniedu, Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Abuja, on Thursday.
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