Police invite VDM to substantiate corruption claim against force
By Mercy Ajekigbe
The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) has invited Influencer VeryDarkMan (VDM) to provide evidence backing his allegations that the police are aiding and benefiting from insecurity in Nigeria.
On August 25, 2026, VDM was invited to speak on insecurity in Nigeria at the 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). During the session, he identified several parties he alleged were directly involved in abetting and benefiting from the country’s insecurity, citing the police force as one example.
VDM alleged that some police officers stationed at checkpoints profile citizens and gather personal information, which they subsequently pass on to kidnappers and bandits to facilitate criminal activities.
In a press statement, however, the police rejected the allegations and called on VDM to provide substantial evidence to support his claims. The force described the allegations as unfair to police officers who risk their lives while manning checkpoints, often under difficult and underfunded conditions.
The police also warned that such allegations could further erode public trust in the agency, potentially undermining national order. At the same time, the force acknowledged that corruption may exist among some officers and assured Nigerians that any officer found to have engaged in criminal conduct would be thoroughly investigated and disciplined.
The NPF reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and accountability in its efforts to maintain law and order across the country.
The development has since gained widespread reactions online, with many Nigerians criticizing the police and sharing personal experiences to support VDM’s claim.
One user, @yrnemz, wrote:
“Same police officers stopped our bus traveling from Lagos to Owerri at 2am in the midnight and ordered everyone to come down of the bus, which we did and they selected me plus my brother with two other guys making it 4 guys, they asked us to follow them into the bush for proper search, which I refused, they slapped me and threatened to shoot me and I stood my ground that if they can’t search me there along the road, I’m not going inside the bush with them. During the argument they’ve already taken the two other guys inside the bush and took their money. We argued on the road until they searched us there and finally asked us to go. One of them said am I not afraid? What if they were kidnappers ? I was traumatized that night. Imagine a police officer asking me such a question. (This happened along benin road )”
Another user, @lynxchizzy commented:
“NPF, evidence full ground ooh. police has done me dirty and my brother too many times mostly when I’m traveling or using uber in Lagos you people should do better. All VDM said is true police don collect 250k from me still give me slap join and I didn’t nothing ooh that was on my way to Lagos February time we aren’t safe in this country”
Subsequently, VDM released a video in response to the press statement. He maintained his allegations and confirmed that he was willing to honour the invitation.
He, however, revealed that he would not provide the evidence directly to the police, and was instead ready to take it up to court, where he would do so.
He also addressed the issue of underfunding in the force and urged the government to provide incentives in order to reduce the corruption.
