VeryDarkMan dares police to charge him to court over insecurity claims

Social media activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has challenged the Nigeria Police Force to charge him to court if it believes he committed an offence over his allegations that some security personnel aid kidnapping, banditry and terrorism in Nigeria.

Otse made the challenge while reacting to the police invitation asking him to provide evidence backing his claims that some officers at checkpoints identify wealthy travellers and pass information about them to kidnappers.

The activist said he was ready to honour the invitation but would not hand over his evidence to the police, insisting that he would present it in court if the matter proceeded to trial.

“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 Instagram.

Otse said his lawyers were prepared to defend him and urged the police to take legal action if they believed his allegations amounted to 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.

He maintained that security agencies, including the police, military, immigration and customs, were contributing to the insecurity affecting 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.

Otse 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.

The police had described his checkpoint allegation as serious, unsubstantiated and damaging to the institution, while assuring that any evidence provided by the activist would be treated urgently and thoroughly investigated.

Despite the invitation, Otse said he remained confident in his claims and was willing to face both the police and military 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.”

The activist also acknowledged the poor welfare of police officers, calling on the government to improve their working conditions as part of efforts to strengthen security in Nigeria.

“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.