Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Nigeria Police Force has formally rejected allegations made by social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), that police officers at checkpoints relay information about travellers to kidnappers and bandits, thereby facilitating abductions for ransom.
In a statement issued on Thursday, August 27, 2026, the Force described the allegations as "unsubstantiated and unfairly damaging to an institution entrusted with the protection of millions of Nigerians." The police said claims of such gravity demand a corresponding standard of evidence, and that standard has not been met.
The controversy began on August 25, 2026, when VDM spoke as a panellist at the Nigerian Bar Association's Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt. During the session, he questioned why kidnappings continue to occur on major highways like the Lagos-Abuja and Lokoja routes despite the presence of multiple police checkpoints. He suggested that officers at these stops profile motorists, identify those who appear wealthy enough to pay ransom, and pass that information to criminals waiting further down the road.
The police statement rejected the notion that officers manning checkpoints are complicit in kidnapping. "Police personnel deployed to checkpoints and other locations nationwide are there to prevent crime, detect criminal activity and protect citizens, not to facilitate kidnapping," the Force said.
The police pointed out that officers routinely confront the very criminal elements they are accused of collaborating with. "Police personnel have been ambushed, attacked and killed, while police stations, formations and operational assets have equally been targeted by terrorists, kidnappers and other violent criminals," the statement read.
The Force also defended its officers against what it described as sweeping accusations that paint the entire institution as complicit in crimes it exists to prevent. "Sweeping public accusations that paint the entire Force as complicit in the crimes it exists to prevent are deeply demoralizing to these officers and unfair to the majority who serve with integrity," the police said.
However, the police stressed that individual officers found to have compromised their duty will face internal discipline and prosecution. The Force invited VDM to produce "without delay" the evidence upon which he based his allegations, "including any evidence that police personnel at checkpoints identify wealthy individuals and subsequently transmit information about them to kidnappers for the purpose of facilitating their abduction."
The police promised that any such information would be treated with urgency and investigated thoroughly. They also encouraged members of the public with credible evidence of officer misconduct to come forward through official channels rather than relying solely on public allegations.
The Force maintained that it remains committed to transparency and accountability and will investigate all credible allegations of misconduct. However, it warned that "the sacrifices of our personnel and the integrity of the institution will not be casually diminished by unverified allegations."
The clash at the NBA conference and the police's formal response have sparked a wider debate about the role of police checkpoints, the culture of extortion on Nigerian roads, and whether citizens can trust the institutions meant to protect them. For now, the ball is in VDM's court, and Nigerians are watching to see if he will provide the evidence he claims to have.
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