The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has condemned social media personality VeryDarkMan, whose real name is Martins Otse, for wearing a police uniform without authorization. This came after a video surfaced on his social media channels showing him donning the official attire .
VeryDarkMan clarified his actions, stating “I’m not an activist but a social media police.” However, the NPF has launched a comprehensive investigation to determine the source of the police gear and assess potential breaches of conduct .
According to the NPF, unauthorized use of police uniforms or insignia is a criminal offense under Section 251 of the Criminal Code Law and Section 133 of the Penal Code Law, and is subject to strict penalties. The NPF emphasized that while they support creativity among young Nigerians, misuse of police uniforms or symbols will not be tolerated as it undermines the force’s values and integrity.
Many have reacted to the news, with some criticizing VeryDarkMan’s actions as seeking attention or constituting a nuisance ¹. Others have questioned the authenticity of the police uniform, suggesting it may not be genuine.