Police Challenge VDM to Substantiate Claim That Officers Leak Travellers’ Details to Kidnappers
The Nigeria Police Force has challenged social critic Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), to provide evidence backing his allegation that police officers stationed at highway checkpoints collude with kidnappers by leaking information about travellers.
VDM made the allegation at the recent Nigerian Bar Association Conference in Port Harcourt, where he claimed that some officers at checkpoints identify wealthy travellers and allegedly pass information about their identities and movements to kidnappers for ransom purposes.
Reacting to the allegation, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, in a statement issued on Thursday, August 27, 2026, dismissed the claim as unsubstantiated and damaging to the reputation of police personnel.
According to Iniedu, officers deployed to checkpoints and other locations across the country are tasked with preventing crime, detecting criminal activities and protecting citizens and 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,” he said.
He noted that police officers regularly confront criminal elements, adding that several personnel had been ambushed, attacked and killed in the line of duty.
The police spokesman also pointed out that police stations, formations and operational assets had been targeted by terrorists, kidnappers and other violent criminals.
Iniedu argued that police officers should not be subjected to blanket accusations without credible evidence, stressing that allegations of misconduct should be properly investigated.
He therefore invited VDM to present evidence supporting his claims, particularly any information showing that police personnel at checkpoints identify wealthy individuals and subsequently transmit their details to kidnappers.
“The Nigeria Police Force hereby invites Mr. Martins Vincent Otse to produce, without delay, the evidence upon which he based these serious allegations,” Iniedu stated.
He assured that any credible information provided would be treated with urgency and subjected to thorough investigation.
The Force also urged members of the public who have evidence of police misconduct to report through appropriate channels to enable the authorities to investigate and take necessary action.
