Nigerian activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as Verydarkman (VDM), has blasted the Nigerian government, bloggers, and the Dangote Group following the death of Ruth Otabor, the younger sister of Big Brother Naija star Phyna, who died on Sunday, August 31, 2025, after spending 19 agonizing days in the hospital.
Ruth was struck by a Dangote truck allegedly driven by an unlicensed driver in Auchi, Edo State, leaving her critically injured. Despite desperate appeals for help, she eventually succumbed to her injuries—an outcome VDM says was preventable if Nigeria’s institutions and citizens had acted swiftly.
In a fiery Instagram video, the outspoken activist accused Nigerians of selective outrage. “She was alive for 19 days, yet nobody spoke up. Now that she is gone, everybody wants to post and trend the story. If we had raised the alarm earlier, maybe Dangote would have been forced to act faster,” he said, visibly emotional.
VDM particularly faulted the Dangote Group, one of Africa’s largest corporations, for allowing unqualified drivers to operate heavy-duty vehicles, endangering lives across the country. He called the incident a reflection of systemic rot, where corporations exploit weak regulation while government agencies look away.
He also held the Nigerian government accountable, accusing institutions of neglect and complicity. “This is why citizens keep dying needlessly. When powerful corporations make mistakes, they get away with it. And ordinary Nigerians are left to bury their dead,” he thundered.
The activist’s comments have reignited public anger, with many on social media demanding accountability from the Dangote Group, whose trucks have been linked to multiple road tragedies over the years. Campaigners are now calling for stricter enforcement of traffic safety laws, proper driver certification, and corporate responsibility for victims of such accidents.
Meanwhile, tributes continue to pour in for Ruth, described by family and friends as a vibrant young woman whose life was cut short by a combination of reckless driving, corporate negligence, and systemic failure. Her tragic passing has sparked fresh debate over the safety of Nigerians on the road and the unchecked power of big corporations.
As the calls for justice grow louder, all eyes are now on both the Dangote Group and the Federal Government to see whether this tragedy will be another case swept under the carpet—or the moment Nigeria begins to hold its most powerful institutions accountable.
