Police launches investigation into Verydarkman unauthorized uniform use

The Nigeria Police Force has issued a stern response to social media influencer Martins Otse, popularly known as “VeryDarkMan,” after he appeared in a recent video wearing full police regalia, including uniform and insignia.

The Force announced that it has launched a full investigation into how Verydarkman obtained the uniform and whether he had any official authorization to wear it. The video, which showed Verydarkman referring to himself as a “social media police” instead of an activist, has sparked controversy and concern over the misuse of official symbols.

In a statement posted on its official X page, the Nigeria Police condemned Verydarkman’s actions, which they stated violated Section 251 of the Criminal Code Law and Section 133 of the Penal Code Law, both of which penalize the unauthorized use of official uniforms and insignia with significant fines and potential jail time.

“The Nigeria Police Force strongly condemns the unauthorized use of official uniforms and accoutrements by an online personality, Mr. Martins Otse, popularly known as ‘VDM,’ in a video posted on his social media platforms,” the statement read.

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“The Force unequivocally disassociates itself from this unauthorized portrayal and has launched a full investigation to determine the source of the Police gear used, as well as the authority under which he acted.”

The Police emphasized that while they support the creative expression of young Nigerians in the content creation space, the unauthorized use of Police symbols is both illegal and potentially damaging. Misusing these symbols, they noted, risks compromising the reputation and integrity of the Force.

Verydarkman, who has a large following on social media, often creates content that critiques social issues. However, this particular video, in which he donned the full police attire, was criticized by many viewers who saw it as a possible misrepresentation of law enforcement.

The Force also used the statement to remind the public that any unauthorized use of police symbols could lead to legal consequences, urging content creators and the public to respect the official status of police symbols and uniforms.