Social media activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has challenged the Nigeria Police Force to take legal action against him over his allegations that some security personnel assist kidnappers and bandits.
Otse made his position known on Thursday while reacting to the police invitation asking him to provide evidence for the claims he made at a recent Nigerian Bar Association conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The police had invited the activist after he alleged that some officers working at checkpoints along major highways identify wealthy travellers and pass information about their movements to criminal groups, making it easier for kidnappers to target them.
Rather than submit his evidence directly to the police, Otse said he would prefer to present it before a court if the authorities decided to prosecute him.
He said his legal team was prepared to represent him and that he was willing to appear in court immediately if the police believed his statements amounted to an offence.
The police had described the allegations as serious but unsupported, saying claims of such nature required credible evidence. The Force also stated that any material provided by Otse would be investigated if it was submitted.
Otse, however, maintained that he stood by his allegations and accused some security agencies of contributing to the persistence of insecurity in Nigeria. He questioned why kidnapping, terrorism and banditry remained widespread despite the large amounts allocated to security operations.
The activist also questioned how security agencies could continue receiving substantial budgets while Nigerians still faced attacks and abductions in different parts of the country.
He said he was ready to defend his claims in court and would continue to speak about issues affecting Nigerians.
Otse further criticised Nigerians who, according to him, defend security agencies whenever he raises allegations against them, despite public complaints about police and military operations.
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He said his intention was to demand accountability from public institutions and insisted that he would not withdraw his allegations simply because the police had asked him to provide evidence.
However, the activist also pointed to the poor welfare of police officers. He said better salaries, working conditions and support for personnel were necessary if the government wanted to improve the country’s security situation.
The latest dispute followed an earlier controversy involving Otse and the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2 Command, Moshood Jimoh.
Otse had accused Jimoh of corruption in relation to the investigation of a case involving businessman Ahmed Tajudeen Akanbi. The police later confirmed that Jimoh had been invited for questioning as part of an internal administrative review.
The Force also asked Otse to provide evidence supporting his allegations against the senior police officer.
Police authorities said the related criminal case had already moved to court following legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.
Otse complained that the police took weeks to respond to his earlier allegations but reacted more quickly to his claims concerning checkpoint operations and alleged links to kidnappers.
He said he had previously released materials connected to the matter, including allegations involving the treatment of suspects, but claimed the police only responded after further material was made public.
The activist has now insisted that he is prepared to face the authorities in court and wants any evidence relating to his claims to be examined through the legal process.
The development comes as the police continue to call on Nigerians with information about misconduct or criminal activity involving officers to report such matters through official channels.
Otse, meanwhile, has maintained that he is ready for the police to take action against him and present his allegations and evidence before a court.
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