-Rejects Claims That Checkpoint Officers Leak Travellers’ Information to Criminals
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has challenged social media personality Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), to provide evidence backing his allegation that some police officers manning checkpoints along major highways leak information about travellers to kidnappers and bandits.
The allegation was reportedly made by VDM during the recent Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Conference in Port Harcourt, where he alleged that some police personnel identify wealthy travellers at checkpoints and subsequently relay information about their identities and movements to criminal groups to facilitate kidnappings for ransom.
Reacting in a statement issued on Thursday, August 27, 2026, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, said the Nigeria Police Force had taken note of the allegations but described them as unsubstantiated and damaging to the reputation of the institution.
The police spokesman said allegations of such magnitude required credible evidence, adding that police personnel deployed to checkpoints and other strategic locations were there to prevent crime, detect criminal activities and protect citizens.
“The Nigeria Police Force firmly rejects these allegations as unsubstantiated and unfairly damaging to an institution entrusted with the protection of millions of Nigerians,” the statement said.
According to the Force, its personnel routinely confront kidnappers, bandits, terrorists and other violent criminals, noting that several police officers had been ambushed, attacked and killed in the line of duty.
The NPF also defended its personnel against what it described as blanket accusations, saying hundreds of thousands of officers work daily under difficult, underfunded and dangerous conditions.
It stressed that while individual officers found to have compromised their duties would face disciplinary action and the full weight of the law, the entire institution should not be condemned based on allegations made without evidence.
The Force therefore formally invited VDM to present the evidence upon which he based his claims.
It specifically requested any evidence showing that police officers at checkpoints identify wealthy individuals and transmit their information to kidnappers for the purpose of facilitating their abduction.
The police assured that any credible evidence presented would be treated with urgency and thoroughly investigated.
The Force further urged members of the public who have credible information concerning police misconduct to use appropriate channels to report such cases, rather than relying solely on public allegations.
The NPF reiterated its commitment to transparency and accountability, stating that it would continue to investigate credible allegations of misconduct and take appropriate action whenever wrongdoing was established.
However, the Force cautioned the public against making or sharing unverified allegations concerning national security institutions, stressing the need to distinguish between legitimate criticism that promotes accountability and unsubstantiated claims that could undermine public trust and national security.
