Anambra Police Warn Against Incitement After VDM’s Visit To Drug Market
The Anambra State Police Command has raised concerns about rising online incitements by individuals outside the state, warning that it could disturb public peace and discredit security efforts.
This followed a visit by Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, to Ogbo ogwu, an open drug (medication) market in the Onitsha area of the state.
In the video, Otse highlighted the market traders’ alleged complaints of repeated extortion by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
Recall that the agency closed down the market over the sale of fake, substandard and unregistered medication.
Otse, flanked by traders in the footage, threatened to lead a protest against the agency for its lack of transparency, alleged extortion and failure to prosecute suspects publicly, found selling fake medications.
However, the police authority in Anambra considered his visit and use of social media as threatening and inciteful.
“Some individuals who are not based in Anambra use social media under the guise of human rights activism to incite the public against government agencies, the police, and other security agencies,” the Command said.
The police noted that NAFDAC’s enforcement operation in the state was part of a federal directive targeting the removal of unregistered, expired, and substandard drugs from the country’s major open drug markets.
“Anambra State happened to be one of the states where the enforcement took place,” the statement explained noting that the “Command has taken necessary steps to escalate the complaints of the affected traders to the agency for action.”
Further investigation by the police, according to the statement, revealed that Otse’s actions were supported by certain individuals within the affected market.
“The leadership distanced themselves from such and pledged to work with relevant agencies to identify defaulters among them,” the Command said.
In a related matter, the police mentioned the case of five travellers reported to have been missing after a layoff in the state — An incident that was made public by human rights activist, Harrison Gwamnishu.
The command expressed its displeasure over Gwamnishu’s refusal to contact the police appropriately, despite an open invitation.
The police highlighted the similarities of Otse and Gwamnishu’s actions towards “a deliberate move to discredit the efforts of the police and other agencies in maintaining the relative peace the state currently enjoys.”
The Command said it had conducted a threat analysis and expressed concern that any protest could be hijacked by criminals to cause violence.
“No person or group will be allowed to infringe on the fundamental human rights of others, especially the rights to freedom of movement and the dignity of human persons,” the statement added.
The Anambra Police said it remains committed to upholding law and order across the state and called on residents to resist efforts to incite violence or unrest.
Anambra Police Warn Against Incitement After VDM’s Visit To Drug Market is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
