Breaking: Police Invite VeryDarkMan Over Claim of Officers’ Alleged Links to Kidnappers

Breaking: Police Invite VeryDarkMan Over Claim of Officers’ Alleged Links to Kidnappers

  • The Nigeria Police Force rejected VDM's claim that officers at checkpoints share travellers' details with kidnappers and bandits
  • VDM reportedly made the allegation at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers state
  • Police spokesperson Ani Iniedu described the allegation as unsubstantiated and called on VDM to submit supporting evidence

FCT, Abuja - The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has publicly challenged social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, known widely as VeryDarkMan (VDM), to back up his viral claim that some police officers at highway checkpoints pass information about wealthy travellers to kidnappers and bandits.

Legit.ng reports that Police spokesperson CSP Ani Iniedu issued the challenge in a statement on Thursday morning, August 27, describing the allegation as "unsubstantiated" and harmful to an institution responsible for protecting millions of Nigerians.

VDM reportedly made the claim at the recent Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Conference in Port Harcourt, alleging that officers manning checkpoints along major highways identify high-value travellers and relay their movements to criminal groups.

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Nigeria Police Force spokesperson CSP Ani Iniedu challenges VeryDarkMan to provide evidence for his allegation that police officers at highway checkpoints share wealthy travellers’ information with kidnappers and bandits.
Nigeria Police Force challenges VeryDarkMan to substantiate his allegation that some officers share travellers’ information with kidnappers and bandits. Photo credit: Nigeria Police Force, Kole Shittu
Source: Facebook

Police defend checkpoint officers

The Force stated that officers at checkpoints and across the country are deployed specifically to prevent crime, detect criminal activity and keep citizens safe. It pointed to the dangers those officers face daily, noting that many have been attacked and killed by kidnappers, terrorists and other violent criminals. Police stations, formations and operational assets had also come under attack by criminal groups, the Force added.

The statement urged the public not to paint all officers with the same brush.

"The Nigeria Police Force is made up of hundreds of thousands of officers who report for duty daily under difficult, underfunded, and often dangerous conditions," it read, adding that many of those deployed to checkpoints operate in areas exposed to the very criminals they are trying to stop.

Police invite VDM to submit evidence

While pushing back on the allegation, the Force made clear it would act on any credible information of officer misconduct.

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"Any such information will be treated with urgency and investigated thoroughly," the statement said.

The police specifically invited VDM to come forward and submit whatever evidence he holds. Officers found to have compromised their duties would face appropriate punishment, the Force said, but it maintained that the institution as a whole should not be condemned on the basis of an unverified claim.

Watch VeryDarkMan's allegation below via X:

Members of the public with credible evidence of misconduct were also encouraged to report through the appropriate channels to enable investigations and legal action.

The police drew a line between criticism that promotes accountability, which it said it welcomes, and allegations that could damage public trust in national security institutions without any factual foundation.

Check out the police’s full statement on VeryDarkMan below via the X post:

Read more on VeryDarkMan

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Pastor releases worrying prophecy on VeryDarkMan

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Prophet Abel Boma of ATB Ministry called on Nigerians to pray for VDM.

In a message titled 'VeryDarkMan Needs to Stay Off Social Media and Rest,' shared on his verified X, Prophet Boma advised VDM to leave Nigeria for a period of rest.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Ridwan Adeola Yusuf avatar

Ridwan Adeola Yusuf (Current Affairs Editor) Ridwan Adeola Yusuf is a content writer with more than nine years of experience, He is also a Current Affairs Editor at Legit.ng. He holds a Higher National Diploma in Mass Communication from the Polytechnic Ibadan, Oyo State (2014). Ridwan previously worked at Africa Check, contributing to fact-checking research works within the organisation. He is an active member of the Academic Excellence Initiative (AEI). In March 2024, Ridwan completed the full Google News Initiative Lab workshop and his effort was recognised with a Certificate of Completion. Email: ridwan.adeola@corp.legit.ng.