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ABUJA — The Nigeria Police Force has challenged social media personality Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), to provide evidence backing his explosive claim that some police officers at highway checkpoints allegedly pass information about travellers to kidnappers and bandits.
VDM made the allegation at the recent Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Conference in Port Harcourt, where he reportedly accused personnel manning major road checkpoints of identifying wealthy travellers and sharing their movements with criminal gangs, thereby helping to facilitate kidnappings for ransom.
But the allegation has drawn a firm response from the Police Force, which described the claim as unsubstantiated and damaging to the reputation of an institution responsible for protecting millions of Nigerians.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, the police said allegations of such magnitude must be supported by credible evidence.
The Force maintained that officers deployed to checkpoints across the country are assigned to prevent crime, detect suspicious activities and protect motorists and other road users—not to assist kidnappers.
According to the police, its personnel frequently confront the same criminal elements they are accused of collaborating with, with several officers losing their lives in attacks by terrorists, kidnappers and other violent criminals.
The Force also rejected what it described as blanket accusations against its personnel, stressing that hundreds of thousands of police officers continue to perform their duties under difficult, underfunded and dangerous conditions.
It said many officers stationed at checkpoints operate in locations exposed to attacks while attempting to keep criminal elements away from Nigeria’s highways.
The police warned that sweeping allegations portraying the entire institution as complicit in kidnapping could demoralise officers who are genuinely committed to protecting the public.
However, the Force acknowledged that individual officers who compromise their duties would not be shielded.
It stressed that any police personnel found to have collaborated with criminals would face internal disciplinary measures and prosecution under the law.
Turning directly to VDM, the police issued a challenge for him to produce whatever evidence informed his claims.
The Force specifically requested evidence showing that checkpoint officers identify wealthy travellers and subsequently transmit their identities or movements to kidnappers for ransom operations.
Police authorities said any credible information supplied would be treated seriously and subjected to thorough investigation.
The Force further appealed to members of the public who have evidence of police misconduct to use appropriate channels to report such cases rather than relying solely on public allegations.
The statement also reaffirmed the police commitment to accountability and transparency, saying credible allegations of misconduct would continue to be investigated regardless of where they originate.
At the same time, the Force urged Nigerians to exercise caution when making or circulating allegations involving national security institutions.
It argued that while legitimate criticism is necessary to strengthen accountability, unverified claims could erode public confidence and potentially undermine national security.
The latest development has placed VDM’s allegation under the spotlight, with the police now demanding evidence that could either substantiate the claim or settle questions surrounding the alleged involvement of checkpoint personnel in kidnapping operations.
The message from the Force was unequivocal: prove the allegation—or risk leaving a serious claim unsupported.
Statement issued by CSP Ani Iniedu, Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Abuja, August 27, 2026.
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