The Nigeria Police Force has fired back at social commentator Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, challenging him to produce evidence for his explosive allegation that police officers at highway checkpoints pass information about travellers to kidnappers and bandits.
Otse made the allegation while speaking at the 2026 Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Tuesday, where he raised concerns over Nigeria’s worsening insecurity and alleged that some security officials were benefiting from the crisis.
In a statement issued from Force Headquarters, Abuja, on Thursday, Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, said the Police viewed the allegation as serious but “unsubstantiated and unfairly damaging” to an institution responsible for protecting millions of Nigerians.
According to the Force, officers deployed to checkpoints are mandated to prevent crime, detect criminal activity and protect travellers, rather than facilitate kidnappings.
In a statement issued from Force Headquarters, Abuja, on Thursday, Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, said the Police viewed the allegation as serious but “unsubstantiated and unfairly damaging” to an institution responsible for protecting millions of Nigerians.
According to the Force, officers deployed to checkpoints are mandated to prevent crime, detect criminal activity and protect travellers, rather than facilitate kidnappings.
It noted that police personnel themselves have repeatedly been ambushed, attacked and killed by kidnappers, terrorists and other violent criminals.
Police Commissioner in charge of Safer Highways, Silas Aremu, had also challenged the claim during the NBA session, arguing that criminals could monitor checkpoint operations and exploit their locations, but rejecting the suggestion that officers routinely identify motorists and pass their details to kidnappers.
Against this backdrop, the Force has now thrown the allegation back at VDM, asking him to produce any evidence showing that officers identify wealthy travellers at checkpoints and subsequently transmit their identities or movements to kidnappers for ransom purposes.
“Any such information will be treated with urgency and investigated thoroughly,” the Police said, urging anyone with credible evidence of misconduct to submit it through appropriate channels.
The Force, however, acknowledged that individual officers could compromise their duties, stressing that any personnel found guilty would face internal disciplinary action and prosecution under the law.
It warned against using allegations involving individual officers to condemn hundreds of thousands of policemen who operate daily under difficult, underfunded and dangerous conditions.
VDM’s comments have come amid renewed concerns over Nigeria’s kidnapping crisis. A recent SBM Intelligence report cited by Reuters recorded 7,825 kidnapping incidents and 1,142 killings between July 2025 and June 2026, with ransom payments estimated at about $5.8 million (₦7.78 billion) during the period.
His intervention at the NBA conference also centred on the vulnerability of Nigerians, including members of the judiciary.
Police Commissioner in charge of Safer Highways, Silas Aremu, had also challenged the claim during the NBA session, arguing that criminals could monitor checkpoint operations and exploit their locations, but rejecting the suggestion that officers routinely identify motorists and pass their details to kidnappers.
Against this backdrop, the Force has now thrown the allegation back at VDM, asking him to produce any evidence showing that officers identify wealthy travellers at checkpoints and subsequently transmit their identities or movements to kidnappers for ransom purposes.
“Any such information will be treated with urgency and investigated thoroughly,” the Police said, urging anyone with credible evidence of misconduct to submit it through appropriate channels.
The Force, however, acknowledged that individual officers could compromise their duties, stressing that any personnel found guilty would face internal disciplinary action and prosecution under the law.
It warned against using allegations involving individual officers to condemn hundreds of thousands of policemen who operate daily under difficult, underfunded and dangerous conditions.
VDM’s comments have come amid renewed concerns over Nigeria’s kidnapping crisis. A recent SBM Intelligence report cited by Reuters recorded 7,825 kidnapping incidents and 1,142 killings between July 2025 and June 2026, with ransom payments estimated at about $5.8 million (₦7.78 billion) during the period.
His intervention at the NBA conference also centred on the vulnerability of Nigerians, including members of the judiciary.
He referenced the reported abduction of a judge travelling from Sokoto State, using the incident to argue that insecurity had become a threat even to members of the legal profession.
Police maintained that legitimate criticism of security institutions is necessary for accountability, but insisted that allegations capable of damaging public confidence must be backed by credible evidence.
With the Force now formally demanding proof, attention is expected to shift to whether VeryDarkMan will substantiate his claims and provide information capable of triggering a formal investigation into any police officers allegedly involved in feeding kidnappers with information on potential victims.
For now, the Police have drawn a clear line: prove the allegation, or face the scrutiny that comes with making a claim of such magnitude.
With the Force now formally demanding proof, attention is expected to shift to whether VeryDarkMan will substantiate his claims and provide information capable of triggering a formal investigation into any police officers allegedly involved in feeding kidnappers with information on potential victims.
For now, the Police have drawn a clear line: prove the allegation, or face the scrutiny that comes with making a claim of such magnitude.
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