Martins Vincent Otse, the social media personality better known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has challenged the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to charge him before a court so he can present evidence of allegations levelled against police officers.

During the annual conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, on Tuesday, the social crusader alleged that police officers are becoming hostile to Nigerians, owing to poor remuneration and welfare.

“There is no welfare for them (police officers). Instead of protecting us, they turned on us. They pass information to the bandits. They even rent their guns to them sometimes,” he alleged.

However, in a statement issued on Thursday, Ani Iniedu, force spokesperson, said the “gravity” of Otse’s allegations requires “corresponding standard of evidence, and that standard has not yet been met”.

Iniedu invited the activist to produce the evidence upon which he based his allegations.

‘I WILL TENDER THE EVIDENCE IN COURT’

Reacting to the police invitation in a video published on his Instagram account, the activist said he was ready to honour the police invitation but would not present his evidence to the police.

VeryDarkMan said he stood by the comment he made during the NBA conference and asked the police to charge him before a court where he would present his evidence.

“I have seen that the Nigerian police have invited me. According to them, to come and give evidence that the police aid kidnapping in Nigeria. That press release came very fast,” he said.

“Of course, when it is time, I will go. But to be honest. I’m not going to be giving the police my evidence. Why will I do that? I will be charged to court, and I will tender the evidence in court.”

The activist captioned the Instagram video thus: “To the Nigerian police I SAID WHAT I SAID, you will get your evidence when I am charged to court I repeat THE POLICE ARE THE UNKNOWN gunmen and they aid kidnappings and the military are also the unknown gunmen….CHARGE ME TO COURT YOU WILL GET THE EVIDENCE THERE.”