Social media influencer Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has received a recognition award from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) at its 2026 Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Otse was honoured on Tuesday after joining a conference panel where he spoke about insecurity, violence and other challenges facing Nigeria. The award was presented on behalf of the NBA leadership and members in recognition of his participation and the experiences he shared with attendees.
During the presentation, the conference moderator praised Otse for appearing before the lawyers and sharing his perspective. The moderator also urged him to report attacks to the police rather than resorting to violence.
Otse had earlier explained that his invitation to the NBA conference was not based on legal expertise. He said he was invited to speak from personal experience and discuss issues he had encountered while engaging with events around insecurity.
During the session, the influencer criticised what he described as inadequate media coverage of killings and attacks across the country. He argued that insecurity should receive sustained public attention because it affects ordinary citizens as well as professionals, including members of the legal community.
Otse also referred to the reported abduction of a judge who was travelling from Sokoto State and was allegedly kidnapped in Kebbi State on July 26 before being released about a week later. He used the incident to highlight what he sees as the growing security risks facing Nigerians.
He further spoke about the June 13, 2025 attack in Yelwata, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, which was reported to have killed more than 200 people. Otse said he personally visited the aftermath of violent attacks and described his experiences while discussing the impact of insecurity.
His appearance at the NBA conference has generated significant public interest, particularly because the award came after his participation in a professional gathering traditionally associated with legal practitioners. The NBA conference continues to draw attention to issues surrounding justice, security and governance in Nigeria.
