By Philippine Duru

philippineobetoduru@gmail.com

08034905774

The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has called for an independent and transparent investigation into allegations that some police officers may be providing information to kidnappers to facilitate abductions across Nigerian highways.

The group made the call on Thursday, August 27, 2026, in reaction to the Nigeria Police Force’s response to allegations made by social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), at the recent Nigerian Bar Association Conference in Port Harcourt.

VDM had alleged that some police officers manning checkpoints on major highways identify wealthy travellers and pass information about their identities and movements to kidnappers and bandits.

The Nigeria Police Force rejected the allegations as unsubstantiated and challenged VDM to provide evidence to support his claims.

RULAAC said it agreed with the police that allegations of such magnitude should not be established through speculation, sweeping accusations or trial by public opinion.

However, the organisation argued that allegations involving possible criminal conduct by security personnel require a credible and independent investigation rather than outright dismissal or institutional defensiveness.

In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, RULAAC said VDM’s allegations should also be considered against the background of longstanding concerns and previous cases in which police or other security personnel have been accused, and in some instances found, to have facilitated criminal activities.

The organisation expressed particular concern over what it described as a contradiction between the numerous security checkpoints on major highways and the continued occurrence of highway kidnappings.

According to RULAAC, checkpoints are established to deter crime, identify suspects, gather intelligence and protect travellers, yet kidnappers continue to operate on major highways.

It said the situation raises questions about the effectiveness of checkpoint deployments and how information obtained from motorists and travellers is handled.

RULAAC also referred to reported cases in which security checkpoints were allegedly dismantled or personnel withdrawn shortly before abductions occurred.

It cited an instance in which a state governor publicly questioned who authorised the withdrawal of security personnel from a checkpoint before a subsequent abduction, saying the matter reportedly generated discussions in the National Assembly without a satisfactory public resolution.

The organisation stressed that such circumstances did not by themselves establish police complicity but argued that they were sufficiently serious to warrant investigation.

RULAAC proposed a broader investigation into whether weaknesses, operational failures or corruption within security checkpoint operations could enable kidnappers to obtain information about potential victims or exploit gaps created by the withdrawal or redeployment of security personnel.

The group said the investigation should examine previous allegations and established cases involving security personnel accused of facilitating kidnapping, the operational effectiveness of highway checkpoints and whether their deployment patterns correspond with locations and timing of reported kidnappings.

It also called for scrutiny of the circumstances surrounding the withdrawal or dismantling of checkpoints before particular abductions, including who authorised such decisions, the intelligence behind them and whether they were properly documented.

Other areas proposed for investigation include the collection and handling of travellers’ information at checkpoints, access to such information, safeguards against leakage, the vetting and supervision of checkpoint personnel, and complaints previously lodged against individual officers or police formations.

RULAAC further called for civilian oversight of the investigation, including the involvement of the Police Service Commission and National Human Rights Commission.

It said relevant prosecutorial and investigative authorities should also become involved where evidence of criminal conduct emerges.

The organisation also questioned the continued use of the term “unknown gunmen” in describing perpetrators of recurring violent attacks.

RULAAC acknowledged that perpetrators may initially be unknown during an investigation but said the continued inability to identify, arrest and prosecute attackers involved in repeated incidents raised questions about intelligence gathering, investigation and prosecution.

The group said Nigerians were entitled to ask who the perpetrators were, who financed and supplied them, who provided intelligence, who negotiated ransom payments and why the suspects remained beyond the reach of the law.

RULAAC stressed that such questions were not intended to undermine security agencies but were necessary to strengthen public confidence in institutions responsible for protecting citizens.

RULAAC said it neither accepted VDM’s allegations as established facts nor believed they should be dismissed simply because they were made publicly or by a controversial public figure.

“The proper test is evidence,” the organisation said.

It urged VDM to submit whatever credible evidence he possesses to the appropriate investigative authorities while calling on the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to subject the allegations to a credible and independently verifiable investigation.

According to RULAAC, an independent probe would protect honest police officers and strengthen public confidence in the Force.

It said that if the allegations were false, a credible investigation would establish that, while anyone found responsible for criminal conduct should face disciplinary and criminal consequences.

RULAAC concluded by calling for a comprehensive, independent and evidence-based investigation into alleged security-sector complicity in kidnapping, including the deployment and withdrawal of highway checkpoints and the possible leakage of information obtained from travellers.

The organisation said Nigerians deserved assurance that security personnel deployed to protect them were operating with integrity, professionalism and accountability.