The Nigeria Police Force has called on social media personality Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), to provide evidence for his claim that some police officers at highway checkpoints pass information about travellers to kidnappers and bandits.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, made the call in a statement issued on Thursday, following remarks reportedly made by VDM at the recent Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Conference in Port Harcourt.
The Police said allegations that officers deliberately identify wealthy travellers and share their details and movements with criminal groups to facilitate kidnapping were serious and required credible evidence.
According to the Force, police officers deployed to checkpoints and other strategic locations are responsible for preventing crime, detecting criminal activities and protecting members of the public.
The Force said its personnel regularly operate in dangerous environments and have suffered attacks, ambushes and fatalities while confronting criminal elements across the country.
It therefore cautioned against blanket accusations against the police, noting that hundreds of thousands of officers continue to perform their duties under difficult, underfunded and hazardous conditions.
The Police, however, stressed that it would not shield any officer found to have compromised their duties, assuring that such personnel would face disciplinary action and prosecution where necessary.
The Force urged VDM to submit any information or evidence in his possession to the appropriate authorities, promising that credible evidence would be treated with urgency and investigated thoroughly.
It also encouraged members of the public who have evidence of police misconduct to make formal reports through established channels, rather than relying solely on public allegations.
The Police reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and accountability, while urging Nigerians to distinguish between legitimate criticism that can strengthen institutional accountability and unsubstantiated claims that could damage public confidence and undermine national security.
