Social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has challenged the Nigeria Police Force to take him to court if it believes his recent allegations about police checkpoints and kidnapping are false.
The challenge followed a police response to comments made by VeryDarkMan at the recent Nigerian Bar Association conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he alleged that some security personnel were helping kidnappers identify potential victims.
VeryDarkMan had claimed that police officers stationed at checkpoints along major highways could identify wealthy travellers and allegedly pass information about their movements to kidnappers, who would then target them for ransom.
The Nigeria Police Force rejected the allegation, describing it as serious, unsubstantiated and damaging to the image of the institution. The Force subsequently invited the activist to provide evidence to support his claims.
Rather than withdraw his comments, VeryDarkMan has challenged the police to pursue the matter through the courts, turning the disagreement into a direct test of the evidence behind his claims.
The police, through the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, said it was prepared to investigate any credible evidence presented by the activist. The Force specifically asked him to provide information showing that officers identify wealthy travellers and transmit their details to criminal groups.
The police also defended officers working at checkpoints, saying their duty is to prevent crime, detect criminal activity and protect travellers. According to the Force, police personnel have themselves been attacked and killed by kidnappers, terrorists and other criminal groups while carrying out their duties.
The Force, however, said it would not protect any officer found to have compromised his or her duties. Such officers, it stated, would face internal disciplinary action and prosecution where necessary.
The dispute has therefore moved beyond social media exchanges, with the police demanding evidence and VeryDarkMan insisting that the matter should be tested through the legal system.
The activist’s allegations have also renewed public discussion about the security situation on Nigerian highways and the safety of travellers, particularly concerns over how criminals obtain information about their victims.
For now, the police have maintained that the allegations remain unsupported, while VeryDarkMan has stood by his position and challenged the authorities to take the next step.
The coming days could determine whether the controversy ends with the submission of evidence and an investigation or develops into a formal legal battle over the serious allegations made against security personnel.