In the deepening tension between Nigeria’s social institutions and the country’s vibrant wave of youth activism, a new chapter unfolded on May 2, 2025, when Martins Vincent Otse—known to millions as VeryDarkMan (VDM)—was arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja. What began as a personal attempt to seek clarity and justice for his mother’s alleged victimization by a financial institution has snowballed into a national debate on the integrity of Nigeria’s law enforcement, the corporate responsibility of its banks, and the future of free speech in an increasingly surveilled digital space.
The events of that day were as swift as they were symbolic. VDM had accompanied his mother to a Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) branch in Abuja, hoping to confront what he described as unauthorized deductions linked to a loan she never took. Armed with a phone and the force of his personality, VDM did what he often does—documented the visit, speaking out on behalf of ordinary Nigerians trapped in the shadows of impunity. Moments later, as he exited the bank, he and his associate Steven Avuara were reportedly surrounded by plainclothed officers, blindfolded, manhandled, and taken away without a formal warrant. The men were later revealed to be operatives of the EFCC.
From there, a storm gathered. VDM’s lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, alleged that his client was physically assaulted during the arrest and denied access to medical attention. The EFCC countered with claims of multiple petitions against VDM, accusing him of cyberstalking, harassment, and character defamation—though no formal charges had been publicly released at the time of writing. Sources close to the commission hinted that some of the complaints originated from senior police officers and Nollywood celebrities who had previously been subjects of VDM’s social media investigations and criticisms.
To supporters of civil liberties, the optics of the arrest were deeply troubling. Amnesty International condemned the EFCC’s actions as a dangerous precedent for silencing dissent. Political voices such as Omoyele Sowore declared the arrest a continuation of Nigeria’s long-standing tradition of state-sponsored intimidation, where whistleblowers and outspoken critics are hounded instead of being heard. Even public figures like Davido took to social media to demand VDM’s immediate release, transforming the arrest into a national flashpoint.
Yet, there is more than one lens through which this moment should be viewed. The EFCC, empowered by Nigeria’s Cybercrimes Act of 2015, insists that it has the legal mandate to investigate cases of online harassment. The broader Nigerian public, however, is increasingly skeptical of how such laws are selectively enforced—more often against activists than against actual cybercriminals. The grey area between activism and harassment remains contested, and VDM’s arrest forces the country to reckon with where that line is drawn.
Meanwhile, GTBank’s silence in the face of the original allegation—that a customer’s account was debited for a loan she never accessed—has become its own scandal. As the hashtag #BoycottGTBank began trending, customers and observers demanded a clear and transparent response. The bank’s unwillingness to address the matter publicly has not only cast doubts on its internal systems but also raised fears about the broader vulnerability of Nigerians to corporate abuse. In a nation where financial literacy is low and redress mechanisms are often ineffectual, the seeming indifference of a banking giant in the eye of a public storm is both telling and dangerous.
Beyond the current standoff lies a deeper national dilemma. Nigeria stands at a crossroads where digital activism and state surveillance increasingly collide. VDM, like many emerging social commentators, represents a generation unwilling to remain silent in the face of corruption, extortion, and abuse. These young Nigerians use social media not as entertainment but as a battleground—where they expose, question, and challenge the establishment. Arresting one of their most vocal representatives, especially under unclear circumstances, is not just an act of law enforcement—it is an attempt to silence a movement.
The path forward demands more than hashtags. VDM’s legal team must pursue every constitutional avenue to ensure his immediate release and fair treatment. GTBank, if it values public trust, must break its silence and explain how such a financial discrepancy occurred and what safeguards are in place to prevent future occurrences. The EFCC
A Deep Dive into Activism, Institutional Power, and Civil Liberties
By Jide Adesina, for 1stAfrika Social Issues Reporting All rights reserved
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