National
Police Invite VDM to Substantiate Claims That Its Officers Connive With Kidnappers
By Micheal Chukwuebuka
The Nigeria Police Force has challenged social critic Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), to provide evidence for his claim that police officers at highway checkpoints leak travellers’ identities and movements to kidnappers.
VDM made the allegation at the recent Nigerian Bar Association Conference in Port Harcourt, accusing checkpoint officers of helping criminals target victims for ransom.
Reacting to his allegation, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, in a statement released today August 27. dismissed the claim as unsubstantiated and damaging, insisting that police personnel deployed on highways are there to prevent crime and protect motorists.
‘’For the avoidance of doubt, police personnel deployed to checkpoints and other locations nationwide are there to prevent crime, detect criminal activity and protect citizens, not to facilitate kidnapping. Indeed, these same police officers routinely confront the very criminal elements alleged to be receiving such information. Police personnel have been ambushed, attacked and killed, while police stations, formations and operational assets have equally been targeted by terrorists, kidnappers and other violent criminals.
Ani argued that police officers deserve better than blanket accusations
He invited VDM to come forward to substantiate his claims.
‘’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. Any such information will be treated with urgency and investigated thoroughly. We encourage any member of the public with credible evidence of officer misconduct to come forward through these channels rather than through public allegation alone, so that appropriate action can be taken’’
