Social media activist, Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, on Tuesday called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of a police officer accused of making derogatory remarks against the Igbo ethnic group.
In a video posted on his official social media pages, VeryDarkMan condemned the comments allegedly made by the officer, describing them as divisive and capable of inciting ethnic tension in the country.
“According to VeryDarkMan, no police officer paid with taxpayers’ money should be allowed to speak hatefully against any tribe in Nigeria. The officer must be arrested and made to face disciplinary action,” he said.
The activist urged the Nigeria Police Force and the Police Service Commission to launch a full investigation into the matter and make the outcome public. He added that officers who engage in tribal profiling have no place in a professional security agency.
The video in question, which circulated online on Monday, reportedly showed the officer making negative comments about Igbos during an interaction. The authenticity of the video and the identity of the officer have not been independently verified by the police as of press time.
In reaction, many Nigerians on social media backed VeryDarkMan’s call, saying hate speech by security personnel undermines public trust. Others, however, called for due process and verification before any disciplinary action.
The Nigeria Police Force has, in previous statements, warned officers against ethnic profiling and unprofessional conduct. The Force Public Relations Officer, CP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, has repeatedly said the police remain committed to national unity and professionalism.
Meanwhile, the Force has not issued an official statement on the latest allegation as at the time of filing this report. Civil society groups have also called on the Inspector General of Police to address the issue to prevent escalation.
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