Social media activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has rejected a request by the Nigeria Police Force to provide evidence backing his allegation that some security personnel are aiding kidnapping and banditry in the country.

Otse, who reacted to the police invitation on Thursday, said he was willing to honour the invitation but would not submit his evidence to the police, insisting that he would present it in court if the authorities decided to prosecute him.

“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 invited the activist to substantiate his allegation that some officers manning checkpoints identify wealthy travellers and pass information about them to kidnappers to facilitate their abduction.

The Force described the allegation as serious and damaging to the institution, while urging Otse to provide any evidence in his possession for investigation.

Reacting to the invitation, Otse said he was prepared to appear before the police and challenged the authorities to charge him to court 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 maintained his allegation that security agencies were contributing to the persistence of insecurity in Nigeria, alleging that some personnel in the police, military, immigration and customs services were benefiting from 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 kidnapping, banditry and terrorism continued despite substantial government spending on national 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 insisted that he was ready to face both the police and military in court over his allegations and vowed to continue speaking out on issues affecting the country.

“But like I said, why would I want to give you my evidence? I wouldn’t do that. When you’re ready, I’m ready,” he said.

Otse also criticised Nigerians who, according to him, defend security agencies whenever allegations are made against them, despite widespread public complaints about insecurity and police conduct.

“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, acknowledged the difficult working conditions faced by many police officers and called on the government to improve their welfare.

“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.

Earlier Allegations Against Police Officer

Otse’s latest comments came weeks after he accused the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2 Command, Moshood Jimoh, of corruption in connection with the investigation of a case involving businessman Ahmed Tajudeen Akanbi.

The police subsequently confirmed that Jimoh had been invited for questioning as part of an internal administrative review.

The Force also invited Otse to substantiate his allegations.

According to the police, the criminal matter connected to the claims was already before a court following advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.

Otse questioned why the police took weeks to respond to his earlier allegations against Jimoh but moved quickly to issue a statement concerning his latest claims about checkpoint officers and kidnapping.

He alleged that he had released evidence relating to the earlier case, including claims of torture of suspects, but said the police only responded after he released additional material.

The activist also repeated his controversial allegation that politicians use cattle to launder money, arguing that Fulani herders were being used as victims of political manipulation.

Despite the police invitation, Otse said he remained ready to face the authorities and defend his allegations 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.”