Popular Nigerian activist and internet commentator Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has been arrested by the Nigeria Police Force at a commercial bank in Abuja. The incident occurred on Friday, May 2, 2025, and was confirmed by his legal representative, Denise Adeyanju.
The arrest took place inside a branch of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), where VDM was reportedly attending to personal banking matters. According to Adeyanju, the outspoken content creator was apprehended alongside his friend identified as C Park. His mother, who was reportedly present, was left behind.
Adeyanju took to his X (formerly Twitter) account to break the news, writing, “JUST IN: VDM arrested by the police at GTB. Spoke to them before he was arrested. This is absolutely unacceptable. Demanding accountability is not a crime.” He followed up with another post: “A team of policemen arrested VDM at GTB. He was arrested with his friend C Park, but they left his mum alone.”
At the time of filing this report, the police had not issued an official statement explaining the reason for the arrest. Sources close to VDM allege that the action may be related to his recent controversial posts and criticism of high-profile individuals, but this remains unconfirmed.
This is not the first time VDM has had a brush with the authorities. In November 2024, he was detained after honouring a police invitation over some of his online statements. Though he was later released, the incident sparked conversations about the shrinking space for digital dissent in Nigeria.
Supporters of the activist have expressed outrage across social platforms, using hashtags like #FreeVDM and #JusticeForVeryDarkMan to demand his release and decry what they perceive as a crackdown on freedom of expression. Prominent human rights advocates have also joined the conversation, urging due process and transparency.
As Nigerians await further updates, the spotlight once again turns to the intersection between digital activism, state power, and the fragile balance of civil liberties in an election-sensitive climate.
