The Nigeria Police Force has challenged social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), to provide evidence backing his allegation that some police officers assist kidnappers and bandits.
The Force made the demand in a statement issued on Thursday by its Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, following comments reportedly made by VDM at the Nigerian Bar Association conference in Port Harcourt.
According to the police, the allegation that officers at checkpoints collect information about travellers and relay it to criminals is a serious claim that requires credible evidence.
The Force said it firmly rejected the allegation, describing it as unsubstantiated and unfair to thousands of police officers working under difficult and dangerous conditions.
The police explained that personnel deployed to checkpoints and other strategic locations were tasked with preventing crime, detecting criminal activity and protecting motorists and other members of the public.
It added that officers regularly confront the same criminal elements accused of receiving information from checkpoints.
According to the statement, police personnel have been ambushed, attacked and killed in the line of duty, while several police stations, formations and operational assets have also come under attacks by terrorists, kidnappers and other violent criminals.
The Force, however, said it would not protect any officer found to have compromised his or her responsibilities.
It stressed that allegations involving individual misconduct would be investigated and appropriate sanctions imposed where wrongdoing was established.
“Where individual officers are found to have compromised their duty, they will face the full weight of internal discipline and the law,” the statement said.
The police nevertheless warned against condemning the entire institution based on allegations that had not been supported with evidence.
It therefore invited VDM to submit any material capable of establishing his claims, particularly evidence showing that officers at checkpoints identify wealthy travellers and subsequently transmit their details to kidnappers.
The Force said any credible information submitted would be treated urgently and subjected to thorough investigation.
It also encouraged members of the public with evidence of police misconduct to use appropriate reporting channels to enable the authorities to investigate and take necessary action.
The Nigeria Police Force reiterated its commitment to accountability and transparency, saying credible allegations of misconduct would continue to receive attention regardless of their source.
However, it cautioned that unverified allegations against security institutions could damage public confidence and potentially undermine national security.
The Force urged Nigerians to distinguish between legitimate criticism and unsupported accusations.
It maintained that constructive criticism could strengthen accountability, while allegations made without evidence could weaken public trust in institutions responsible for protecting citizens.
The police consequently called on VDM and other members of the public with information concerning alleged misconduct to provide evidence through the appropriate channels rather than relying solely on public accusations.
