Activist insists his evidence will only be presented in court after police invited him to substantiate allegations of security agencies aiding kidnappers and bandits.
Social media personality Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has refused to submit evidence to the Nigeria Police Force over his allegations that security personnel aid kidnapping and banditry in Nigeria.
Otse, in a video posted on Instagram on Thursday, said he was ready to honour the police invitation but would only present his evidence in court if the authorities decided to prosecute him.
The development followed the police invitation asking him to substantiate his claim that officers at checkpoints identify wealthy travellers and allegedly pass information about them to kidnappers.
The police described the allegations as serious and unsubstantiated but said any credible evidence provided by Otse would be urgently investigated.
Responding, the activist challenged the police to charge him to court, insisting that his lawyers were ready to defend him. He maintained that he would not disclose his evidence during police questioning.
Otse also stood by his broader allegations against the police, military, immigration and customs authorities, claiming that some security personnel contribute to the persistence of kidnapping, banditry and terrorism.
However, he acknowledged the difficult conditions faced by police officers and called for improved welfare, arguing that better support for personnel would strengthen Nigeria’s security system.