The Nigeria Police Force has challenged social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), to provide evidence backing his allegation that police officers manning checkpoints along major highways relay information about travellers to kidnappers and bandits.

The Force, in a statement signed by its Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, on Thursday, described the allegation as unsubstantiated and capable of damaging public confidence in the police institution.

Otse reportedly made the allegation at the recent Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Conference in Port Harcourt, where he claimed that some police officers at checkpoints identify wealthy travellers and pass information about their movements to criminal gangs, thereby facilitating kidnappings for ransom.

Reacting to the allegation, the police said it took all claims concerning the conduct of its personnel seriously but insisted that allegations of such gravity required credible evidence.

The Force said: “The Nigeria Police Force firmly rejects these allegations as unsubstantiated and unfairly damaging to an institution entrusted with the protection of millions of Nigerians.”

It maintained that police personnel deployed to checkpoints and other locations across the country were assigned to prevent crime, detect criminal activity and protect citizens, rather than facilitate kidnapping.

According to the police, officers on checkpoint duties routinely confront the same criminal elements they are accused of assisting, adding that several personnel had been ambushed, attacked and killed by terrorists, kidnappers and other violent criminals.

The Force also defended its personnel against what it described as blanket accusations, saying hundreds of thousands of officers perform their duties daily under difficult, underfunded and dangerous conditions.

It said such sweeping accusations could demoralise officers who serve with integrity and expose themselves to danger in the line of duty.

The police, however, acknowledged that individual officers found to have compromised their duties would face disciplinary measures and prosecution where necessary.

“But an entire institution should not be condemned on the strength of a public statement made without evidence,” the Force said.

The police consequently invited VDM to produce, without delay, any evidence upon which he based his claims, particularly evidence that checkpoint personnel identify wealthy individuals and transmit information about them to kidnappers to facilitate their abduction.

The Force said any information provided would be treated with urgency and subjected to thorough investigation.

It also urged members of the public with credible evidence of police misconduct to make such information available through appropriate channels to enable the authorities to investigate and take necessary action.

The police reiterated their commitment to transparency and accountability, saying credible allegations of misconduct would continue to be investigated regardless of how they emerged.

The Force, however, cautioned against the circulation of unverified allegations concerning national security institutions, noting that while legitimate criticism could strengthen accountability, unsubstantiated claims could undermine public trust and national security.