Police Challenge VeryDarkMan to Provide Evidence Over Kidnapping Complicity Allegation
The Nigeria Police Force has challenged social media personality and activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), to provide evidence supporting allegations that some police officers stationed at highway checkpoints pass information about travellers to kidnappers and bandits.
The Force, in a statement issued on Thursday, August 27, 2026, by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, described the allegations as serious but currently unsubstantiated, insisting that claims of such magnitude must be supported by credible evidence before conclusions are drawn.
The controversy followed remarks attributed to VeryDarkMan during the Nigerian Bar Association Conference in Port Harcourt. According to the police statement, Otse alleged that officers manning checkpoints along major highways sometimes identify travellers, including individuals perceived to be wealthy, and relay information about their movements to criminal groups, potentially facilitating kidnappings for ransom.
The Nigeria Police Force rejected what it described as a broad allegation against its personnel, arguing that such claims could undermine public confidence in officers who routinely work under difficult and dangerous conditions.
Police Demand Evidence
Responding directly to the allegation, the Force invited VeryDarkMan to submit any evidence in his possession that could establish the involvement of police personnel in such activities.
According to the statement, information capable of identifying officers who allegedly provide intelligence to kidnappers would be treated seriously and subjected to investigation.
The police specifically requested evidence supporting the claim that officers at checkpoints identify wealthy travellers and subsequently transmit information about them to kidnappers to facilitate their abduction.
The Force said credible information presented by Otse or any other member of the public would be investigated thoroughly and with urgency.
While rejecting the allegation in its present form, the police maintained that the invitation was consistent with its commitment to accountability and should provide an opportunity for the claims to be tested through investigation rather than public speculation.
Force Defends Role of Checkpoints
The police also defended the continued deployment of officers at checkpoints across the country, saying personnel stationed at such locations are primarily tasked with preventing crime, detecting suspicious activity and protecting road users.
It noted that police officers themselves have frequently become targets of terrorists, kidnappers, bandits and other armed groups.
Across different parts of Nigeria, security personnel have faced attacks at checkpoints, patrol locations and police formations as criminal groups seek to evade security operations. Officers have also been killed or injured in attacks while police stations and operational assets have been targeted.
Against that background, the Force argued that presenting checkpoint personnel generally as collaborators with kidnappers would be unfair to officers confronting the same criminal networks.
The statement nevertheless left open the possibility of misconduct by individual personnel, stressing that any officer found to have compromised his or her responsibilities would face disciplinary measures and applicable legal consequences.
The distinction, according to the Force, is between investigating specific allegations against identifiable personnel and portraying the entire institution as complicit without sufficient supporting evidence.
Police Say Officers Should Not Face Blanket Accusations
The Force further expressed concern about the impact of sweeping allegations on the morale of its personnel.
It noted that hundreds of thousands of officers perform duties across Nigeria, often under challenging operational conditions and with limited resources.
Some of those officers, particularly personnel stationed on highways and in communities affected by insecurity, operate in environments where kidnapping, banditry and armed attacks remain significant threats.
The police maintained that accusations implicating the entire institution could unfairly damage the reputation of officers serving professionally and honestly.
However, the Force reiterated that institutional defence would not be used to shield personnel where credible evidence of wrongdoing exists.
“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 Force therefore encouraged members of the public who possess evidence of police misconduct to report such cases through appropriate channels to enable investigation and possible prosecution or disciplinary action.
Kidnapping Remains a Major Security Concern
The exchange comes against the backdrop of continuing public concern about kidnapping and insecurity on Nigerian highways.
Kidnapping for ransom has become one of the country’s most persistent security challenges, affecting motorists, communities and businesses in several regions. Criminal groups have increasingly exploited isolated roads, difficult terrain and gaps in security coverage to carry out attacks.
The situation has also generated intense debate over the effectiveness of checkpoints, highway patrols, intelligence gathering and community-based security systems.
For many Nigerians, allegations of collaboration between security personnel and criminals are particularly sensitive because police officers and other security agencies are expected to serve as the first line of protection against such threats.
This makes credible allegations of security personnel aiding criminal networks matters of substantial public interest. At the same time, accusations against identifiable individuals or institutions require evidence and proper investigation to establish responsibility.
The controversy involving VeryDarkMan therefore raises two related questions: whether credible evidence exists to support his allegations and how security institutions respond when members of the public raise concerns about possible misconduct within their ranks.
Police Reaffirm Accountability Pledge
The Nigeria Police Force said it remains committed to transparency and accountability and would continue investigating credible allegations against its personnel regardless of how such information emerges.
It maintained that wrongdoing would not be ignored where evidence establishes misconduct.
At the same time, the Force cautioned against circulating unverified allegations concerning national security institutions, warning that such claims could weaken public trust and complicate security operations.
The police called for a distinction between legitimate criticism capable of strengthening accountability and allegations that have not been supported with verifiable evidence.
The statement also acknowledged challenges surrounding police resourcing, noting that personnel frequently operate under difficult conditions while carrying out security responsibilities across the country.
For the Force, accountability and institutional integrity must therefore operate together: allegations of misconduct should be investigated, while officers who perform their duties professionally should not automatically be associated with wrongdoing attributed to individuals.
Attention Now Turns to VeryDarkMan
The police invitation places the next stage of the controversy on whether VeryDarkMan will publicly or privately provide evidence supporting the allegations attributed to him.
Should evidence be submitted, the Force has pledged to investigate it urgently. Such an investigation could help establish whether the allegation relates to identifiable officers, particular checkpoints or specific kidnapping incidents.
If no evidence is presented, the police position remains that the allegation lacks sufficient substantiation.
Beyond the immediate disagreement, the controversy highlights the importance of public confidence in Nigeria’s security institutions at a time when kidnapping and violent crime remain major concerns.
Effective policing depends partly on cooperation between citizens and security agencies. Members of the public must be able to report suspected misconduct without intimidation, while allegations capable of damaging individuals or institutions should be subjected to verification and due process.
For now, the Nigeria Police Force has formally rejected the general allegation while leaving the door open for investigation should VeryDarkMan or any other person provide credible evidence.
The statement was issued from Force Headquarters in Abuja on August 27, 2026, and signed by Force Public Relations Officer CSP Ani Iniedu.
