Afrobeats star Davido, nightlife promoter Cubana Chief Priest, and several other Nigerians have condemned the arrest of popular activist and social media influencer, Martins Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan (VDM).
VDM was reportedly picked up on Friday at a bank in Wuse, Abuja, by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in what many described as a forceful and ambiguous operation that resembled an abduction. Media reports say the EFCC had earlier obtained a court order to remand him over alleged cybercrime offences.
His arrest has sparked outrage across social media, with the hashtag #FreeVDM trending widely, as fans and public figures demand his immediate release.
Davido, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), praised VDM’s influence and called on authorities to let him go:
“Outside all the noise, it’s good to see that the good one does actually impact lives and people actually appreciate it! The support I’m seeing for VDM everywhere is encouraging… makes one want to do more for the masses. FREE MY GUY.”
Cubana Chief Priest also took to Instagram, posting:
“We just dey fake happiness. Our man is missing. The voice of the voiceless is gone. Peace dey cry, street dey call. FreeVDM now!”
Social media users joined the chorus, expressing anger over what they perceive as a crackdown on free speech and civic voices.
@supernickky_musik wrote:
“If VeryDarkMan can go missing, then freedom of speech is not truly guaranteed. The common man no safe again.”
@bigHotbaby1 added:
“EFCC and these politicians really need to focus on the right things! There’s real corruption going on. Free VDM!”
Even former presidential candidate Peter Obi waded into the controversy, slamming the manner of the arrest as heavy-handed and legally questionable.
“The display of force, lacking in transparency and civility, closely resembled abduction. If Nigerians begin to struggle to distinguish between legitimate arrests and unlawful abductions, we lose a vital layer of national security and accountability,” he warned.
As public pressure mounts, the EFCC has yet to issue an official statement on the circumstances surrounding the arrest or provide details about the allegations against VDM.
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