Checkpoint kidnapping claims: Charge me to court, I’ll submit evidence, VDM tells police

Social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has challenged the Nigeria Police Force to charge him to court over his allegation that some security personnel aid kidnapping and banditry in the country.

Otse said on Thursday that he would honour the police invitation but would not submit his evidence to the Force, insisting that he would rather present the evidence in court.

The police had invited the activist to provide evidence backing his allegation that officers manning checkpoints identify wealthy travellers and pass information about them to kidnappers to facilitate their abduction.

Reacting to the invitation in a video posted on his Instagram page, Otse said his lawyers were ready to defend him in court.

“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.

He added, “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.”

The police had described the allegation as serious, unsubstantiated and damaging to the institution, while saying any evidence provided by the activist would be treated with urgency and thoroughly investigated.

However, Otse maintained his allegation that security agencies were aiding insecurity in the country.

“It is the police people that aid insecurity. It is the military men that benefit from insecurity. That’s why it can never stop,” he alleged.

He also questioned why banditry, terrorism and kidnapping continued despite government spending on security.

“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,” he said.

Otse said he was prepared to face the police and military in court over his allegations and would continue to speak out on issues affecting the country.

“But like I said, why would I want to give you my evidence? I wouldn’t do that. Who would take you to court? You understand? When you’re ready, I’m ready. Face the love, don’t play,” he said.

He maintained that his comments were intended to hold public institutions accountable and insisted that he stood by his allegations.

“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.

The activist, however, acknowledged the poor welfare of police officers, saying the government needed to improve their working conditions to strengthen security across the country.

“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.

Otse’s latest comments came weeks after he accused the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2 Command, Moshood Jimoh, of corruption in connection with the investigation of a case involving businessman Ahmed Tajudeen Akanbi.

The police subsequently confirmed that Jimoh had been invited for questioning as part of an internal administrative review and also invited Otse to substantiate his allegations.

The Force said the criminal matter linked to the claims was already before a court following advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.

Otse criticised the police for what he described as a slow response to his earlier allegations against Jimoh, saying the Force only acted after he released additional material.

He also alleged that he had released evidence relating to the case, including claims of torture of suspects, but that the police did not initially respond.

The activist further repeated his controversial claim that politicians use cattle to launder money, arguing that Fulani herders were victims of political manipulation.

He concluded by reiterating his readiness to face the police and present his evidence in court.

“For the police, I’m very, very ready for you guys. 100 per cent. I’m ready to show you that you people aid insecurity. You people aid banditry and terrorism in this country,” he said.

“Let’s meet in court. The evidence will be tendered there.”