Nigeria Police Challenge VeryDarkMan to Prove Claim Officers Leak Wealthy Motorists’ Details to Kidnappers

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has challenged social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, to provide evidence backing his allegation that some police officers at checkpoints identify wealthy motorists and allegedly pass their information to kidnappers to facilitate abductions.

In a statement issued on Thursday by the Force spokesperson, CSP Ani Iniedu, the police said they would investigate any credible evidence of police complicity in kidnapping but warned against making sweeping allegations that could damage public confidence in the institution.

The reaction followed comments reportedly made by Otse at the ongoing Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) National Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he raised concerns over insecurity and alleged links between security personnel and kidnapping networks.

Police Defend Personnel

Refuting the allegations, the Force acknowledged that isolated cases involving compromised officers could occur but argued that blanket accusations against the entire police institution could erode public trust and undermine the morale of personnel serving in dangerous conditions.

The statement partly read:

“The Nigeria Police Force is made up of hundreds of thousands of officers who report for duty daily under difficult, underfunded, and often dangerous conditions, many of them at checkpoints exposed to the very criminal elements they are trying to keep off our roads.”

The Force added:

“Sweeping public accusations that paint the entire Force as complicit in the crimes it exists to prevent are deeply demoralizing to these officers and unfair to the majority who serve with integrity. Where individual officers are found to have compromised their duty, they will face the full weight of internal discipline and the law.”

NPF Demands Evidence

Directly addressing VeryDarkMan, the police formally requested that he submit verifiable evidence or a dossier supporting his claims.

The Force said any evidence implicating police personnel would be treated as a matter of urgency and thoroughly investigated, with officers found culpable facing internal disciplinary action and possible criminal prosecution.

The statement said:

“Accordingly, the Nigeria Police Force hereby invites Mr. Martins Vincent Otse to produce, without delay, the evidence upon which he based these serious allegations, including any evidence that police personnel at checkpoints identify wealthy individuals and subsequently transmit information about them to kidnappers for the purpose of facilitating their abduction.”

The Force added:

“Any such information will be treated with urgency and investigated thoroughly.”

Police Warn Against Unverified Claims

The police spokesperson also cautioned public figures against making what the Force described as sensationalised claims at major public events.

The NPF urged members of the public to submit credible complaints through established disciplinary and legal channels rather than making public allegations that could potentially undermine national security.

“The sacrifices of our personnel and the integrity of the institution will not be casually diminished by unverified allegations,” the Force warned.

It further called on Nigerians to exercise responsibility when making or sharing allegations concerning national security institutions.

According to the Force, there should be a clear distinction between legitimate criticism, which it said strengthens accountability, and unsubstantiated claims, which it argued could undermine public trust and national security.

Allegations of Security Personnel Aiding Criminals

Allegations that rogue security personnel leak intelligence to kidnapping rings and bandit groups have remained a recurring subject of public debate in Nigeria, particularly amid concerns over highway abductions across parts of the South-South, Middle Belt and North-West regions.

During plenary sessions at the 2026 NBA Conference in Port Harcourt, discussions reportedly focused heavily on human rights abuses, arbitrary detention, systemic extortion and security failures.

VeryDarkMan, who attended the conference as a guest speaker on civil engagement and youth advocacy, used the platform to raise concerns about institutional corruption and alleged misconduct within security agencies.

He specifically drew attention to police checkpoint operations along major interstate routes, alleging that information obtained from motorists could potentially be exploited by criminal networks.

The Nigeria Police Force has now challenged him to substantiate the allegations, while maintaining that officers found to have compromised their duties will be held accountable under the law.