Charge Me to Court — VeryDarkMan Challenges Police Over Checkpoint Kidnapping Claims

Social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has challenged the Nigeria Police Force to charge him to court over his allegations that some security personnel aid kidnapping and banditry in Nigeria.

Otse made the statement on Thursday while reacting to the police invitation asking him to provide evidence supporting his claims.

The activist said he was prepared to honour the invitation but would not hand over his evidence to the police, insisting that he would present it before a court if prosecuted.

He said his lawyers were ready and challenged the police to take legal action if they believed his allegations constituted an offence.

The police had invited Otse after he alleged that officers manning checkpoints identify wealthy travellers and pass information about them to kidnappers to facilitate abductions.

The Force described the allegation as serious, unsubstantiated and damaging to the institution, while assuring that any evidence presented would be treated urgently and investigated thoroughly.

Reacting, Otse maintained his allegations against security agencies, claiming that the police, military, immigration and customs authorities were aware of the insecurity affecting the country.

He questioned why banditry, terrorism and kidnapping remained widespread despite substantial government spending on security.

Otse also said he was ready to face the police and military in court, insisting that he would continue speaking publicly about issues affecting Nigerians.

He accused Nigerians of defending security agencies despite frequently criticising the police and military over the worsening insecurity.

However, Otse acknowledged the poor welfare of police officers and called on the government to improve their working conditions, arguing that better welfare would strengthen the country’s security system.

His latest comments came weeks after he accused the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2 Command, Moshood Jimoh, of corruption in connection with the investigation of a case involving businessman Ahmed Tajudeen Akanbi.

The police subsequently confirmed that Jimoh had been invited for questioning as part of an internal administrative review. Otse was also invited to substantiate his allegations.

The Force said the criminal matter linked to the claims was already before a court following advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.

Otse criticised what he described as the police’s delayed response to his earlier allegations, compared with the speed with which the Force reacted to his recent claims concerning checkpoint kidnappings.

The activist insisted that he stood by his allegations and concluded by challenging the police to meet him in court, where he said the evidence would be tendered.