Since the arrest and release of social media critic, Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, the Nigerian police have remained silent, leaving the public with a one-sided story.
Development Diaries reports that VDM recently regained his freedom from police custody in Abuja after being detained for close to two weeks.
Last week, VeryDarkMan’s legal representative revealed on social media that he was arrested and detained based on a petition filed by two actresses and a singer.
VeryDarkMan was accused of cyberbullying and cyberstalking. The lawyer also alleged that the trio petitioned different policing agencies in Abuja.
However, the police have denied reports claiming their officers arrested VeryDarkMan, saying the law enforcement agency was ‘unaware of VeryDarkMan’s arrest’.
The failure of the police in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to transparently communicate the reasons for his arrest and subsequent release is deeply concerning.
In a democratic society, law enforcement agencies are expected to operate within the confines of the law and uphold the rights of all citizens.
The lack of transparency surrounding this incident raises serious questions about accountability and the rule of law in the country.
Also, the arbitrary detention of an activist without clear justification not only stifles freedom of expression and dissent but also undermines public trust in law enforcement institutions.
The government needs to uphold the principles of democracy, transparency, and accountability by ensuring that law enforcement agencies operate with integrity and adhere to legal procedures when dealing with citizens, because failure to do so erodes the trust and confidence of citizens in the justice system and the government’s commitment to upholding fundamental human rights.
More so, the silence of the police on this matter does not help their quest to build public trust.
Development Diaries calls on the police in the FCT to confirm or refute the claims made by the legal representative of VeryDarkMan. The force needs to explain to the public why VeryDarkMan was held to end the speculation surrounding his detention.
Unlawful detention is a blatant violation of human rights and a disregard for the rule of law.
Photo source: VeryDarkMan
