The Nigerian Police have condemned the use of its uniform by social media personality Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan or VDM.
In a post made on its official Facebook page, the Police stated, “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.”
“It is important to remind the public that the unauthorized use of police uniforms, insignia, or accoutrements constitutes a criminal offense, as stipulated in Section 251 of the Criminal Code Law and Section 133 of the Penal Code Law, and is subject to strict penalties.”
Otse, in a viral video, declared himself a Chief Superintendent of Police of the Online Division to combat crimes and expose criminals while donning a police uniform.
“While the Nigeria Police Force recognizes and supports the creativity of young Nigerians in the content creation space, we strongly caution against the misuse of police uniforms or symbols. Unauthorized use of these items undermines the values and integrity of the Force and will not be tolerated,” the Police also stressed.
