Charge me to court, VeryDarkMan challenges police over checkpoint kidnapping claims

Social media activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has said he will not submit to the police the evidence backing his allegation that some security personnel aid kidnapping and banditry in Nigeria.

Otse, who reacted on Thursday to the invitation extended to him by the Nigeria Police Force, said he was prepared to honour the invitation but would prefer to present his evidence 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 in a video posted on his Instagram page.

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

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

Reacting to the invitation, Otse said his lawyers were ready and challenged the police to charge him to court if they believed he had committed an offence.

“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,” he said.

The activist maintained his earlier allegation that security agencies were aiding insecurity in the country, saying the police, military, immigration and customs knew what was happening.

“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.

Otse also questioned the continued prevalence of banditry, terrorism and kidnapping 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.

He said he was ready to face the police and military in court over his allegations, adding that he would continue speaking 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.

Otse also accused Nigerians of defending security agencies after his allegations, despite routinely criticising the police and military over insecurity.

He said his comments were aimed at holding public institutions accountable and maintained 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 in the country.

He said, “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.”

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 the 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 said the police had initially taken weeks to respond to his allegations against Jimoh but moved quickly to issue a statement over his recent comments on checkpoint kidnappings.

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

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

He concluded by saying he was ready to face the police whenever they chose to proceed against him.

“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.”