Social media personality Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has refused to submit evidence to the Nigeria Police Force over his allegations that security personnel aid kidnapping and banditry in Nigeria.
Otse, who addressed the police invitation in a video posted on his Instagram page on Thursday, said he was prepared to face the authorities but would only present his evidence if the matter was taken to court.
He challenged the police to prosecute him if they believed his allegations constituted an offence, insisting that his lawyers were ready to defend him.
“I’m not going to be giving the police my evidence. Why would I do that? I would be charged to court, and I would turn down the evidence in court,” he said.
The development followed an invitation by the Police Force earlier in the day, asking Otse to substantiate his claim that officers manning checkpoints on major highways identify wealthy travellers and allegedly pass information about them to kidnappers.
According to the police, the allegations were serious and unsubstantiated, and could undermine public confidence in the institution. The Force had, however, said any credible evidence provided by Otse would be treated urgently and investigated.
But responding to the invitation, the activist said he would not disclose his evidence during police questioning.
“So when I get to your office, you charge me to court. I can go to court on that same day. My lawyers are on ground,” he said.
Otse also stood by his broader claim that security agencies were contributing to the persistence of insecurity across the country.
He accused the police, military, immigration and customs authorities of having knowledge of the factors sustaining kidnapping, banditry and terrorism, while questioning why the problems had continued despite significant government spending on security.
“It is the police people that aid insecurity. It is the military men that benefit from insecurity. That’s why it can never stop,” Otse alleged.
He added, “How much is your budget to battle insecurity? How much is your budget? Go and look at your budget and tell me why we still have bandits and terrorists kidnapping people.”
The activist said he would not be deterred from speaking about issues affecting the country, regardless of the consequences, maintaining that his comments were intended to demand accountability from public institutions.
He also criticised what he described as the tendency of Nigerians to condemn the security agencies over insecurity but defend them when allegations of misconduct are raised.
“I’m proud of myself that right in their faces I said what I had to say and to tell them that the insecurity going on in Nigeria, it is aided by them. I stand by my words,” he said.
Despite his criticism of the security agencies, Otse acknowledged the difficult conditions under which many police officers operate and called for improved welfare for personnel.
“There is no welfare for the Nigerian police. If you want Nigeria’s security to be tightened, you have to take care of our policemen. Take care of them,” he said.
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