Dismiss Those Tribalists – VDM Calls on IGP Tunji Disu to Probe, Sack Police Officer Caught in Alleged Bribery Video

Social media activist, Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has called on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Tunji Disu, to investigate and dismiss a police officer captured in a viral video allegedly demanding a bribe from a motorist.

The call follows the circulation of a video showing the officer stopping a motorist during a routine checkpoint inspection and requesting his vehicle documents.

According to the footage, the driver presented his driver’s licence and other relevant vehicle documents, which the officer carefully examined. Despite finding no apparent issue with the documents, the officer allegedly demanded that the motorist “settle” him.

When the driver insisted that he had no money to offer, the officer allegedly returned all the vehicle documents except the driver’s licence, which he continued to withhold.

In the now-viral video, the officer was also heard making a controversial remark that has sparked outrage on social media.

“If it is another person or Igbo or other persons, I will just say go and park there,” the officer allegedly said.

Reacting to the incident, VeryDarkMan condemned both the alleged extortion attempt and the officer’s statement, describing the comment as discriminatory, unprofessional and unbecoming of a law enforcement officer.

According to the activist, police officers are expected to treat every Nigerian equally, regardless of tribe or ethnic background.

“This is coming from a public servant that has been trained to see everybody as equal, to see all tribes as Nigerians. He opened his mouth to say, ‘If it is another person or Igbo or other persons, I will just say go and park there,’” VDM said.

He further argued that the officer’s refusal to return the driver’s licence, despite finding nothing wrong with the vehicle documents, suggested an attempt to extort the motorist.

VDM noted that the officer’s statement telling the driver to “go and do better thing make you dey go” implied that he expected the motorist to offer money before being allowed to continue his journey.

Expressing frustration over the incident, the activist sarcastically suggested that motorists might as well carry cash for checkpoints instead of ensuring they possessed valid vehicle documents.

“Forget your driver’s licence, just carry ₦200 for police checkpoints. So let’s stop getting driver’s licences and car documents. Make we just carry ₦200 and ₦500 dey waka for road, then say ‘Police, take’ at every checkpoint,” he said.

VDM warned that if such behaviour goes unpunished, it could encourage continued harassment of innocent motorists and promote ethnic profiling by security personnel.

Calling for decisive action, he urged the Inspector-General of Police to thoroughly investigate the officers involved and dismiss anyone found culpable.

“The Nigerian Police stopped a man by the road and asked for money because the guy didn’t want to give him money. He said, ‘If you are Igbo, I would have detained you.’ A Nigerian Police officer? A tribalist? Calling on the Inspector General of Police to immediately investigate and dismiss those tribalists wearing the police uniform,” he said.

The incident has continued to generate widespread reactions online, with many Nigerians urging the police authorities to identify the officers involved and take disciplinary action to restore public confidence in the Force.