NBA conference: Police invites VeryDarkMan over allegations of officers’ involvement in kidnapping
The Nigeria Police Force has invited social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, to provide evidence backing his allegations that some police officers facilitate kidnappings by sharing information about travellers with criminals.
The Force said the invitation followed comments made by Otse at the Nigerian Bar Association Conference in Port Harcourt, where he alleged that police officers manning checkpoints along major highways identify wealthy travellers and relay information about their movements to kidnappers and bandits.
In a statement on Thursday, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, said the allegations were serious and required credible evidence.
The police described the claims as “unsubstantiated and unfairly damaging” to an institution responsible for protecting millions of Nigerians.
“Accordingly, the Nigeria Police Force hereby invites Mr. Martins Vincent Otse to produce, without delay, the evidence upon which he based these serious allegations,” the statement said.
The Force specifically requested any evidence showing that officers at checkpoints identify wealthy individuals and subsequently transmit information about them to kidnappers to facilitate their abduction.
It said any evidence presented by Otse would be treated with urgency and thoroughly investigated.
The police also defended officers deployed to checkpoints, saying their mandate was to prevent crime, detect criminal activity and protect citizens rather than facilitate kidnapping.
