The Nigeria Police Force has acknowledged that officers battling crime across the country operate under difficult, underfunded conditions while challenging VeryDarkMan to prove his kidnapping claims.
The Force made this known in a statement issued on Thursday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, in response to allegations made by Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, at the Nigerian Bar Association Conference in Port Harcourt.
VeryDarkMan had alleged that police officers stationed at checkpoints along major highways pass information about travellers to kidnappers and bandits, including details that could facilitate abductions for ransom.
The police rejected the allegation as unsubstantiated, saying the claim requires evidence before such a serious accusation can be sustained.
The Force said its personnel deployed to checkpoints and other locations were assigned to prevent crime, detect criminal activity and protect citizens, rather than assist criminal networks.
It noted that officers routinely confront the same criminal elements accused of receiving information from checkpoints, adding that several policemen had been ambushed, attacked and killed in the line of duty.
The statement also drew attention to the conditions under which many police personnel perform their duties.
“The Nigeria Police Force is made up of hundreds of thousands of officers who report for duty daily under difficult, underfunded, and often dangerous conditions,” the statement said.
It added that many officers stationed at checkpoints were exposed
The Force said allegations portraying the entire police establishment as complicit in kidnapping were unfair to personnel who carry out their duties with integrity.
It also maintained that officers found to have compromised their duties would be subjected to disciplinary measures and prosecution where necessary.
“Where individual officers are found to have compromised their duty, they will face the full weight of internal discipline and the law,” the police said.
Turning directly to VeryDarkMan, the Force asked him to present the evidence behind his claims, including any material showing that checkpoint officers identify wealthy travellers and pass their details to kidnappers.
“The Nigeria Police Force hereby invites Mr. Martins Vincent Otse to produce, without delay, the evidence upon which he based these serious allegations,” the statement said.
The police said any evidence supplied would be treated urgently and investigated thoroughly.
It also urged members of the public who possess credible information about police misconduct to use appropriate channels instead of relying solely on public allegations.
The Force reaffirmed its willingness to investigate credible complaints against its personnel, while calling for responsible handling of claims relating to national security agencies.