By Elvira Jordan
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has challenged popular social media activist, Martins Vincent Otse, commonly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), to substantiate his recent claims that police officers at highway checkpoints leak travel details to kidnappers and bandits.
The demand was contained in an official statement released on Thursday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, in response to comments attributed to VDM during the recent Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt.
Firmly rejecting the allegations, the Police High Command described the assertion as baseless, damaging, and unfair to thousands of dedicated personnel working under dangerous conditions to secure the nation’s highways.
“The Force firmly rejects these unsubstantiated accusations. Officers deployed to checkpoints are assigned to prevent crime, detect criminal activity, and protect citizens—not facilitate kidnapping or banditry,” the statement read in part.
The Force highlighted the heavy sacrifices made by its personnel, pointing out that officers manning highway checkpoints frequently fall victim to ambushes and fatal attacks by the same violent criminal groups they are accused of aiding.
While dismissing sweeping generalizations against its workforce, the NPF emphasized that it maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy for rogue elements within its ranks.
“Where individual officers are found to have compromised their duty or assisted criminal elements, they will face the full weight of internal discipline and prosecution under the law,” the Force assured, reiterating its call for VDM to present concrete evidence to aid investigation.
