Social media activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has refused to submit to the police the evidence supporting his allegation that some security personnel facilitate kidnapping and banditry in Nigeria.
Otse, reacting on Thursday to the invitation issued to him by the Nigeria Police Force, said he was willing to honour the invitation but insisted that he would rather present his evidence before a 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 present evidence supporting his allegation that officers operating checkpoints identify wealthy travellers and pass information about them to kidnappers to aid their abduction.
The Force described the allegation as serious, unsubstantiated and capable of damaging the reputation of the institution, while assuring that any evidence submitted by the activist would be urgently reviewed and thoroughly investigated.
Responding to the invitation, Otse said his lawyers were prepared to represent him and challenged the police to prosecute him 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 reiterated his allegation that security agencies were contributing to insecurity across the country, claiming that the police, military, immigration and customs were aware of the situation.
“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 remained widespread despite the government’s huge expenditure 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 prepared to confront the police and military in court over his allegations and would continue to speak publicly about matters 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 criticised Nigerians who defended security agencies following his allegations, despite frequently expressing concerns over the conduct of the police and military in tackling insecurity.
He maintained that his remarks were intended to demand accountability from public institutions and insisted that he stood by the allegations he had made.
“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, recognised the difficult working conditions faced by police officers and called on the government to improve their welfare as part of efforts to strengthen national security.
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 remarks came weeks after he accused the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2 Command, Moshood Jimoh, of corruption over the handling of the investigation involving businessman Ahmed Tajudeen Akanbi.
The police later confirmed that Jimoh had been invited for questioning as part of an internal administrative review and also asked Otse to provide evidence supporting his allegations.
The Force said the criminal case connected to the allegations was already before a court following legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.
Otse claimed that the police took several weeks to react to his allegations against Jimoh but acted swiftly in responding to his more recent claims concerning checkpoint kidnappings.
He alleged that he had previously released evidence concerning the case, including allegations that suspects were tortured, but said the police failed to respond initially until he published additional material.
The activist also repeated his controversial allegation that politicians use cattle to launder money, arguing that Fulani herders were being exploited as victims of political manipulation.
He ended by reiterating his readiness to face the police whenever they decided to take action 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.”
