By Anita Babalola
LAGOS, NIGERIA — The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has issued fresh demands for independent investigations into two separate but politically sensitive security concerns—alleged security-sector complicity in Nigeria’s kidnapping and banditry crisis, and reports that casino content appeared on the official website of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In a communiqué issued after its National Executive Committee meeting in Lagos on Saturday, CDHR called for forensic inquiry into both issues, warning that unchecked negligence, insider leakage, or digital vulnerabilities could undermine public safety and the integrity of the 2027 electoral process.
CDHR: Allegations of “intelligence leaks” at highway checkpoints must be investigated
On insecurity, CDHR referenced allegations made by social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, claiming that some police officers at highway checkpoints profile travellers and allegedly share information about potential victims with criminal networks.
CDHR said the allegations should neither be treated as proven facts nor dismissed without verification, arguing that claims involving possible insider assistance are legitimate national security concerns requiring independent scrutiny.
“The Committee believes that allegations of this magnitude should not simply be dismissed, nor should they be accepted without investigation,” CDHR stated in the communiqué, adding that it demanded an independent, transparent and credible inquiry.
Police reject allegations; CDHR insists on evidence-based investigation
The Nigeria Police Force has reportedly rejected the allegations and challenged VeryDarkMan to provide verifiable evidence.
CDHR, however, stressed that public statements—even when disputed—should not automatically be ignored. It also noted that previous cases in which individuals with access to security information were accused of aiding criminal groups do not automatically confirm institutional collaboration by security agencies.
CDHR clarified that past incidents do not, on their own, prove that the police or other security agencies are “institutionally collaborating” with kidnappers. But the group argued that these cases still point to serious risks—criminal infiltration, information leakage, insider assistance, and security-sector misconduct—that warrant investigation.
Who should conduct the probe? CDHR outlines multi-agency oversight
CDHR called for an investigation involving:
- civil society organisations,
- the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC),
- relevant National Assembly committees, and
- other oversight institutions.
At the same time, CDHR urged authorities to protect honest officers from blanket accusations while ensuring that any officer found to have aided criminal networks is prosecuted.
“The Nigerian people deserve security agencies they can trust. Security checkpoints must be places where citizens receive protection, not places where criminals obtain information about potential victims,” the group said.
INEC Website Breach: CDHR demands forensic audit, public accountability
CDHR’s second demand concerns the digital integrity of Nigeria’s electoral infrastructure after reports that casino content was hosted on INEC’s official website.
The group said the incident should not be treated as a “mere technical embarrassment,” warning that INEC’s role in the 2027 elections makes digital security a constitutional and democratic issue.
CDHR questioned how unauthorized content could appear on an official electoral platform and whether the same vulnerability could be exploited to manipulate electoral information.
“CDHR demanded an independent forensic audit of INEC’s digital systems and a public explanation of how the incident occurred, who was responsible and what measures had been introduced to prevent a recurrence,” the communiqué stated.
“Deleting pages is not enough”—CDHR wants answers, not cover-ups
CDHR said removing the casino pages would not satisfy public accountability expectations, arguing Nigerians deserve to understand:
- who had access to publish content,
- how the breach happened, and
- what protections have been activated to prevent future intrusions.
The group also warned that safeguarding election integrity must extend beyond polling units to the digital systems supporting the electoral process.
CDHR further noted broader institutional decay and corruption, calling for credible investigations into wrongdoing and insistence that anyone found culpable should face the law, regardless of rank or status.
CDHR links insecurity to alleged insider profiling
CDHR calls for an investigation into claims that some officers profile travellers at checkpoints and leak potential victim information to criminal networks.
Multi-institution oversight demanded
The group wants civil society, NHRC, National Assembly oversight and other institutions involved in any probe to ensure independence and transparency.
INEC digital security under scrutiny
CDHR demands forensic audit and public explanation after reported hosting of casino content on the official INEC website.
Election integrity must be protected on and offline
CDHR warns that digital vulnerabilities could threaten the credibility of the 2027 electoral process.
With Nigeria facing an escalating kidnapping and banditry crisis and the 2027 elections approaching, CDHR says the country must confront both security-sector integrity risks and digital infrastructure vulnerabilities before they compound into deeper public harm.
The organisation’s position is clear: allegations of insider assistance in insecurity must be investigated through independent oversight, while reports of unauthorized content on INEC’s official platform must trigger forensic accountability and stronger protective measures. For CDHR, security and electoral trust must be reinforced through transparency, evidence-based inquiry, and enforcement of the law.
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