Nigeria Police Force invites VeryDarkMan to provide evidence for checkpoint kidnapping claims

The Force, in a statement by Force Public Relations Officer Ani Iniedu, noted comments made by Otse at a recent Nigerian Bar Association conference. VeryDarkMan had claimed that police officers at checkpoints identify wealthy travelers and relay their information to kidnappers, facilitating abductions for ransom. The police described these allegations as serious, unsubstantiated, and damaging to the institution.

They stated that such grave allegations require corresponding evidence, which has not yet been provided. The Force urged Otse to produce any evidence, including proof that police personnel transmit information to kidnappers. They assured that any evidence would be urgently and thoroughly investigated.

The police also encouraged the public to report credible evidence of misconduct through appropriate channels, rather than relying solely on public allegations. They maintained that officers at checkpoints are deployed to prevent crime and protect citizens, not to facilitate kidnapping, and that officers routinely confront criminal elements, often suffering attacks and casualties. The Force warned against blanket accusations that could demoralize personnel and undermine public trust, emphasizing that individual officers found to have compromised their