started · updated
Nigeria Police summon VeryDarkMan over kidnapping collusion claims
The Nigeria Police Force has formally invited social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, known as VeryDarkMan, to provide evidence for his allegations that police officers at checkpoints collude with kidnappers and bandits. During a panel at the Nigerian Bar Association conference in Port Harcourt, Otse claimed that officers identify wealthy travelers and relay their identities and movements to criminal groups to facilitate abductions for ransom.
Force Public Relations Officer CSP Ani Iniedu rejected the claims as “unsubstantiated and unfairly damaging,” stating that checkpoint personnel are deployed to prevent crime and protect citizens. The police emphasized that officers often face violent attacks from the very criminals Otse described. While the Force promised to investigate any individual officers found to be corrupt, they cautioned against making sweeping accusations against the entire institution.
In response, Otse stated he would honor the invitation but refused to hand over his evidence to the police, declaring his intention to present it in court instead. He also criticized the legal profession and the NBA, accusing critics of classism following remarks by lawyer Femi Falana regarding Otse's suitability as a panelist. Otse has since released a video on Instagram which he described as his “first piece of evidence,” though the contents have not been verified by official investigations.
Entities
Ani Iniedu · Femi Falana · Martins Vincent Otse · Nigeria Police Force · Nigerian Bar Association · Port Harcourt · Vincent Otse
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 8 SOURCES] The Nigeria Police Force rejects the allegations as unsubstantiated and damaging. chronicle.ng · thenicheng.com · silverbirdtv.com · rhythm937.com · www.thetrentonline.com · +1 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] Some police officers pass personal information gathered at checkpoints to kidnappers and bandits. chronicle.ng · osundefender.com · thenicheng.com · silverbirdtv.com · rhythm937.com · +3 more
- [● 4 SOURCES] The police will investigate and discipline any individual officers found to be corrupt. chronicle.ng · thenicheng.com · www.thetrentonline.com · silverbirdtv.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Police officers are becoming hostile to citizens due to poor remuneration and welfare. chronicle.ng · www.fellowpress.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Vincent Otse will attend the police invitation but intends to present his evidence in court rather than to the police. osundefender.com · www.fellowpress.com · thecitizenng.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Martins Vincent Otse released a video on Instagram containing what he described as his first piece of evidence. www.thetrentonline.com