VeryDarkMan made the allegation while speaking as a panellist at the recent Nigerian Bar Association Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt.
He accused some police officers stationed at checkpoints of allegedly monitoring motorists, identifying wealthy travellers and passing information about their movements to criminals, who subsequently target them for kidnapping and ransom.
Reacting to the allegation on August 27, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, described the claims as unsubstantiated and said they unfairly portrayed the police institution.
Iniedu maintained that officers deployed to checkpoints and other locations across the country are assigned to prevent crime, detect criminal activities and protect citizens.
“For the avoidance of doubt, police personnel deployed to checkpoints and other locations nationwide are there to prevent crime, detect criminal activity and protect citizens, not to facilitate kidnapping,” he said.
The police spokesperson noted that officers have also been victims of attacks by terrorists, kidnappers and other violent criminal groups, with several personnel reportedly killed in the line of duty.
According to Iniedu, police stations, formations and other operational assets have equally been targeted by criminal elements.
He said police officers deserved better than blanket accusations and urged VeryDarkMan to submit any evidence supporting his claims for immediate investigation.
“The Nigeria Police Force hereby invites Mr Martins Vincent Otse to produce, without delay, the evidence upon which he based these serious allegations,” Iniedu said.
He added that any credible information implicating police personnel in misconduct would be treated with urgency and thoroughly investigated.
The Force also encouraged members of the public with evidence of police misconduct to report such cases through appropriate channels to enable necessary action to be taken.
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