VeryDarkMan apologises to police over use of uniform in video

Social media activist, Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has tendered a public apology to the Nigeria Police for using their uniform in a viral video.

He had claimed to be Chief Superintendent Officer (CSP) of the police’s online division, which the police hierarchy did not find funny and invited him for questioning, while accusing him of impersonation.

After honouring the invitation,VDM tendered a public apology, claiming he was not aware of the protocol involved in getting a police permission to wear their uniforms.

In the apology he posted on his social media handles on Thursday, VeryDarkMan advised the public to seek permission before using police or any law enforcement uniforms, as some might use them for good, while others might exploit them for nefarious purposes.

He also cautioned fellow content creators to obtain necessary clearance from law enforcement before using similar uniforms for content purposes.

“I’m back from the police station which was back and forth. They brought me in based on a post I made where I said I was a CSP of an online division,” he said in the video.

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“A lot of discussion happened, interrogation and I found out some things. You know we learn every day. I made my video and I said CSP. In my own interpretation, what I meant was Chief Social Media Person.

“However, the Nigeria Police have a rank called CSP which means Chief Superintendent of Police. And also, they said the uniform I was wearing is similar to the Nigeria Police.

“That if at all you want to use a uniform that is similar to that of the Nigeria Police, you have to seek permission, which I didn’t know all these. It looked as if I was cajoling the Nigeria Police which was never my intention.

“I want to make a formal apology to the Nigeria Police. Of course I cannot caricature you. Without you, who is going to protect us?

“I tender my unreserved apologies to the Nigeria police force and the office of the inspector general of police.

“And also, I will like to use the medium to tell the general public to always seek permission from the police or other law enforcement agencies before using anything that might look like their uniform.

“You might want to use it for good but there are others that might want to use it for bad, so it’s good to get full approval before using anything that might seem impersonating the Nigeria Police Force,” he concluded.

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