The Nigeria Police Force has challenged social commentator Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan, to provide evidence for his allegation that some police officers share travellers’ information with kidnappers and bandits. The demand followed comments he made during the 2026 Nigerian Bar Association Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
VeryDarkMan alleged that officers stationed at checkpoints on major highways identify wealthy travellers and pass details about their identities and movements to criminal groups, potentially exposing them to kidnapping for ransom.
The police rejected the allegation, describing it as a serious claim that requires credible evidence before it can be established.
In a statement signed by Force Public Relations Officer CSP Ani Iniedu on Thursday, the police invited Otse to submit whatever information he possesses to support the allegation.
The Force said any credible information indicating that police personnel have compromised their duties would be treated urgently and investigated.
The police also maintained that officers deployed to checkpoints are responsible for preventing crime, detecting criminal activity and protecting travellers across the country.
The Force said allegations of misconduct involving individual officers would be investigated where evidence exists, but warned against extending such accusations to the entire police institution without proof.
Speaking at the NBA conference, VeryDarkMan questioned the effectiveness of security checkpoints and alleged that information gathered from travellers could reach criminal networks.
His wider comments focused on Nigeria’s insecurity and the alleged failure of security agencies to prevent kidnappings and other violent crimes.
Channels Television previously reported that VeryDarkMan had also accused government officials and security agencies of benefiting from the country’s insecurity. Those earlier claims were presented as allegations and were not accompanied by evidence during the conference.
The police response also pointed to the dangers faced by personnel deployed against criminal groups.
According to the Force, officers have been ambushed, attacked and killed by terrorists, kidnappers and other violent criminals. Police stations, operational formations and equipment have also come under attack.
The Force argued that such circumstances make broad claims of institutional collusion particularly serious.
It said:
- Individual officers found to have compromised their duties can face disciplinary action and prosecution.
- Credible complaints of police misconduct can be submitted through official channels.
- Evidence supporting VeryDarkMan’s specific allegation will be investigated if provided.
- Members of the public should distinguish between evidence-based criticism and unverified allegations.
The dispute emerged during a panel discussion at the NBA conference involving security officials. Commissioner of Police in charge of Safer Highway, Department of Operations, Silas Aremu, also responded to concerns about checkpoints.
Aremu acknowledged that checkpoints could potentially be abused by bad elements within the security system but rejected the suggestion that police routinely obtain information on motorists and hand it to kidnappers.
He instead argued that criminals can monitor checkpoint locations and exploit information about movements around them.
That distinction is central to the current dispute: VeryDarkMan’s allegation concerns police personnel allegedly supplying information to criminals, while the police position is that criminals themselves may observe security operations and exploit weaknesses.
The immediate issue is whether VeryDarkMan will provide evidence capable of supporting his allegations.
The Nigeria Police Force said it remains willing to investigate credible reports of misconduct and take action where wrongdoing is established. At the same time, it warned that unsupported allegations involving national security institutions could damage public confidence and have wider implications for security operations.
The development places the burden on evidence rather than public accusations. If Otse submits verifiable information identifying officers, locations, communications or specific incidents, the allegations could provide grounds for a formal investigation. Without such evidence, the police have rejected the claims as unsubstantiated.
