Police challenge VDM to provide evidence linking officers to bandits

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has challenged social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), to provide evidence backing his allegation that some police officers leak information about wealthy Nigerians to bandits and kidnappers.

The force, in a statement issued on Thursday by its spokesperson, Ani Iniedu, said the seriousness of the allegation required credible evidence.

VDM had made the claim at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) conference on Tuesday while criticising the welfare and remuneration of police officers.

According to him, poor welfare has contributed to some officers becoming hostile to Nigerians, alleging that some officers provide information to bandits and, in some cases, rent their firearms to criminals.

Reacting, the police described the allegations as “unsubstantiated and unfairly damaging” to an institution whose personnel risk their lives to protect citizens.

Iniedu said broad accusations portraying the entire police force as complicit in criminal activities were demoralising to officers who perform their duties with integrity.

The force, however, acknowledged that individual officers found to have compromised their duties would face disciplinary measures and prosecution where necessary.

The police specifically asked VDM to submit any evidence showing that officers at checkpoints identify wealthy individuals and subsequently pass their information to kidnappers to facilitate abductions.

The NPF said any credible evidence submitted would be treated urgently and thoroughly investigated.

It also urged members of the public with evidence of police misconduct to report through appropriate channels to enable authorities to take action.