Police Demand Evidence From VDM — Passenger’s “Dreadlocked Suspect” Story Triggers Explosive Questions Over Highway Security

By Passman Akpos

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

The Police Force made the demand in a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, following comments attributed to VDM at the recent Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Conference in Port Harcourt.

VDM had alleged that some security personnel at checkpoints identify travellers considered wealthy and subsequently relay information about their movements to criminal gangs, thereby facilitating kidnappings for ransom.

The Police described the allegation as serious, unsubstantiated and damaging to an institution responsible for protecting millions of Nigerians.

According to the Force, officers deployed to checkpoints are tasked with preventing crime, detecting criminal activities and protecting citizens, rather than facilitating abductions.

The Police further argued that its personnel themselves routinely confront violent criminals, noting that officers have been ambushed, attacked and killed, while police stations, formations and operational assets have also come under attack.

‘Bring The Evidence’ — Police Tell VDM

The Force said it would investigate any credible evidence of police misconduct but insisted that allegations of such magnitude must be supported by verifiable facts.

It therefore invited VDM to produce any evidence in his possession, particularly evidence allegedly showing that police officers at checkpoints identify wealthy travellers and transmit their identities or movements to kidnappers.

The Police said such information would be treated with urgency and thoroughly investigated.

The Force also warned against what it described as blanket accusations capable of demoralising hundreds of thousands of police officers serving under difficult and dangerous conditions.

It stressed, however, that individual officers found to have compromised their duties would face internal disciplinary measures and prosecution where necessary.

But Public Reactions Raise Fresh Questions

The Police statement has triggered a wave of reactions, with some Nigerians questioning whether an invitation to provide evidence is enough to address allegations involving members of the Force itself.

One recurring argument among commentators is that if the allegation concerns police officers, the Police Force should not appear to investigate itself without independent oversight.

Some respondents questioned the basis of the Police invitation, arguing that VDM should instead be encouraged to submit evidence to an independent investigative body or the courts.

Others cited previous incidents and personal experiences which, in their view, make the allegations worthy of an independent investigation rather than outright dismissal.

One commentator asked why Nigerians should ignore unresolved questions surrounding alleged security failures preceding attacks by bandits.

Another claimed that authorities had allegedly received warnings before the Yelewata killings but failed to act. Such claims, however, would require independent verification.

Personal Account Adds Fuel To Debate

Among the reactions was an account from a traveller who said he personally experienced a frightening incident on a journey through Edo State to Bayelsa about three years ago.

According to the account, the traveller was aboard a Peace Mass Transit bus at about 2am when armed robbers reportedly intercepted the vehicle after it had passed several military and police checkpoints.

The robbers allegedly moved from passenger to passenger, collecting money and using POS machines during the operation.

The traveller said another Peace Mass Transit bus subsequently approached but turned back after apparently noticing the robbery.

According to the account, when police officers eventually arrived, they allegedly asked the victims whether the suspect was a tall, fair-skinned man wearing dreadlocks.

The traveller said the question left passengers shocked because it appeared that the officers already had information about the description of one of the alleged perpetrators.

The account remains an allegation from an individual and has not been independently verified.

‘We Saw Them’ — Nigerians Demand Answers

Other social media users also referenced videos and alleged incidents in which individuals described as bandits were purportedly seen interacting with security personnel at checkpoints.

One commentator claimed that police officers had been seen saluting men on motorcycles believed to be bandits, while another referred to footage allegedly showing armed men interacting casually with individuals wearing black uniforms during a peace arrangement in Katsina.

Those claims have not been independently established by the Police Force or verified by Tarakirivoice.

A separate commentator also recalled an alleged kidnapping incident in which armed men reportedly disguised themselves as military personnel, complete with uniforms and name tags, before boarding a vehicle and ordering passengers into the bush.

These accounts have intensified demands for authorities to establish whether criminal elements have infiltrated security formations or whether some officers are colluding with kidnappers.

‘You Cannot Be A Judge In Your Own Case’

One of the strongest arguments emerging from the reactions is the demand for an independent investigation.

Critics argue that where allegations specifically implicate members of the Police Force, the institution should not be the sole body determining whether the allegations are credible.

Some have therefore called for credible complaints and evidence to be submitted to independent law-enforcement oversight bodies, courts or other competent authorities capable of investigating the claims without an institutional conflict of interest.

Police: Legitimate Criticism Is Welcome

Despite rejecting the allegations, the Police Force said it remained committed to transparency and accountability.

It urged members of the public with credible evidence of police misconduct to come forward so that specific officers could be investigated and sanctioned where wrongdoing is established.

The Force also called on Nigerians to distinguish between legitimate criticism that promotes accountability and unverified allegations that could undermine public confidence in national security institutions.

But the controversy is unlikely to end with the Police statement.

For many Nigerians, the central question now is no longer simply whether VDM should produce evidence. It is whether allegations involving possible collusion between security personnel and kidnappers deserve an independent, transparent and publicly credible investigation.

Until that question is satisfactorily addressed, the dispute between the Police Force and VDM is likely to remain a major flashpoint in Nigeria’s growing debate over highway security, kidnapping and public confidence in security agencies.

CSP Ani InieduForce Public Relations OfficerForce Headquarters, AbujaAugust 27, 2026