Why We Arrested VeryDarkMan’s Supporters — Police Reveal What Happened

The Delta State Police Command has clarified the circumstances that led to the temporary detention of members of social media activist VeryDarkMan’s Ratel Movement during a community sanitation exercise in Ibusa.

The incident sparked reactions after some members of the group claimed they were arrested simply for participating in their routine monthly environmental cleanup.

One of the members alleged that the group was taken into custody while cleaning parts of the community.

Responding to the claims, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Delta State Command, SP Bright Edafe, said preliminary investigations showed that the group’s activities were legitimate.

According to Edafe, the issue arose because the volunteers began carrying out the sanitation exercise in a community where they were largely unknown without first notifying community leaders or security agencies.

He explained that residents who were unfamiliar with the group became suspicious and alerted the police.

“From our findings, they were indeed carrying out community service. However, when an organisation intends to conduct such an activity in a community where it is not known, it is important to first inform the community leadership and relevant authorities, including the police, about its intentions. Since the residents did not recognise them, they contacted the police,” Edafe wrote on his account.

The police spokesperson said the Divisional Police Officer later interviewed the members and confirmed that they were genuinely engaged in a sanitation exercise.

Following the verification, the group was released without further action.

“The DPO spoke with them, established that their intentions were genuine, and they were allowed to leave. Not everything should be turned into content, please,” Edafe added.

The police maintained that the group’s temporary detention resulted from concerns raised by members of the community rather than the sanitation exercise itself.

No charges were filed against the Ratel members after authorities confirmed the purpose of their visit.