- Demand Proof
The Nigeria Police Force has formally invited social media activist Martins Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan, to substantiate his recent claims that police officers at checkpoints are collaborating with kidnappers and bandits.
The controversy stems from comments Otse made at the Nigerian Bar Association conference in Port Harcourt, where he alleged that officers identify wealthy travellers and relay their movements to criminal groups to facilitate abductions.
In a statement released on Thursday by Force Public Relations Officer Ani Iniedu, the police categorically rejected the claims, labelling them “unsubstantiated and unfairly damaging” to an institution tasked with national security.
“Allegations of this gravity demand a corresponding standard of evidence, and that standard has not yet been met,” the statement read. The Force has directed Otse to produce his evidence immediately, pledging that any credible information provided will be treated with urgency and subjected to a thorough investigation.
The police further emphasised that their personnel are deployed to prevent crime and protect citizens, often at great personal risk. The statement highlighted that officers frequently face ambushes and attacks from the very criminal elements they are accused of assisting.
While the Force acknowledged that individual officers found guilty of misconduct will face internal disciplinary measures and prosecution, it cautioned against making blanket accusations. Such claims, the police argued, risk demoralising personnel and undermining public trust in national security institutions.
The public is encouraged to report any credible evidence of police misconduct through official channels rather than relying on public allegations, which the Force warned could endanger national security.
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