Police Challenge VeryDarkMan to Provide Evidence of Alleged Checkpoint Links to Kidnappers

The Nigeria Police Force has challenged social media commentator Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, to provide evidence backing his allegation that police officers at checkpoints share information about travellers with kidnappers and bandits to facilitate abductions.

The Force made the demand in a statement issued on Thursday, August 27, following remarks made by VDM at the Nigerian Bar Association’s Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

At the conference, VDM alleged that police officers manning checkpoints along major highways could identify travellers who appeared capable of paying ransom and relay information about them to criminal groups. He also questioned why kidnapping continues despite the presence of security checkpoints on major highways.

The police, however, described the allegation as unsubstantiated, saying claims of such gravity require evidence.

The Force has now specifically invited VDM to submit any evidence showing that checkpoint personnel identify wealthy travellers and transmit their information to kidnappers.

The Nigeria Police Force said credible evidence of misconduct would be treated urgently and investigated, while maintaining that individual officers found to have compromised their duties would face disciplinary and legal consequences.

The Force’s response now puts the focus on whether VeryDarkMan will provide evidence to support the serious allegations he made at the NBA conference.