Last Friday, Nigerians watched in disbelief as social media activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), was reportedly whisked away from a bank in Wuse, Abuja. The scene, caught partly on video and retold by eyewitnesses, didn’t look like your average arrest. It looked like something far more sinister.
As of Monday, we know the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was behind the arrest. Their spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, confirmed to BBC Pidgin that VDM was taken in based on “multiple petitions” and would be released as soon as he meets his bail conditions. No specific charges have been made public, and the EFCC has been careful not to reveal who the petitioners are.
But for millions of young Nigerians, this wasn’t just about one man being detained; this was about what his voice represents, and what it means when that voice is silenced.
The People Spoke Loud and Clear
The hashtag #FreeVDM lit up social media almost instantly. Protesters took to the streets in Abuja. Placards went up outside GTBank’s head office. Davido, Cubana Chief Priest, and even Labour Party’s Peter Obi publicly condemned the arrest, calling it a threat to civil liberties.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar didn’t mince words either. He called the arrest “a blatant abuse of power” and part of a disturbing pattern under President Tinubu’s administration. And in a post that gained widespread traction, Obi warned of a Nigeria where people can no longer distinguish between lawful arrest and kidnapping; a chilling thought that feels far too real.
GTBank, caught in the crossfire after VDM’s lawyer alleged the arrest took place on their premises, released CCTV footage and denied involvement, still, the timing raised eyebrows. VDM had just publicly called them out over suspicious debits on his mother’s account, and was arrested shortly after inside one of their branches.
Whether or not GTBank was involved, the optics aren’t great. And for young people watching this unfold, the message is louder than any press release: “If you speak up, you might be next.”
But Here’s the Thing; The Youth Aren’t Afraid Anymore
VDM is controversial, he doesn’t always say things the right way. But that’s exactly why people connect with him. He speaks in the tone of the streets: raw, loud, and unfiltered. He exposes fraudsters, confronts cult-like fanbases, and calls out powerful people. He’s not polished, he’s not perfect, but he’s real. And in a country where silence is often bought, bullied, or broken, real is revolutionary.
For many young Nigerians, VDM represents a shift in power away from media gatekeepers and into the hands of everyday citizens with smartphones, opinions, and the guts to speak out. What we’re seeing isn’t just outrage, it’s the youth aggressively taking ownership of the media and the society they want.
The Bigger Picture: Who Gets to Speak for Nigeria?
In a democracy, dissent is not a crime, criticism is not corruption, and raising your voice should not be grounds for arrest.
Yet, time and time again, we see youth voices being suppressed. From EndSARS to VDM’s arrest, the trend is painfully clear: the moment young Nigerians begin to demand accountability, institutions react with fear, not reform.
But here’s what those in power often forget: This generation is not here to ask for permission. They’re organizing protests on WhatsApp, they’re fundraising on Twitter, they’re investigating scams on TikTok, they’re building communities on Instagram. They’re doing the work that institutions were supposed to do, and doing it better.
What Now? A Message to Nigerian Youth
If this situation has made you feel powerless, you’re not alone, but you are not powerless. The fact that one man’s arrest could cause this much public reaction is proof that your voice matters. So don’t just tweet, organize. Don’t just rage, strategize. Don’t just share the hashtag, be the headline. Speak up, not just for VDM, but for all the young Nigerians who don’t have a platform.
Hold your banks, your government, your systems accountable. Join campaigns. Learn your rights. Educate others. Be loud. Be informed. Be unshaken.
Because if we don’t fight for the kind of Nigeria we want, someone else will keep deciding what kind of Nigeria we get.
One Last Thing
Inside Success Nigeria believes in equipping youth with the skills and platforms to change their story. Whether it’s entrepreneurship, storytelling, activism, or creative strategy, your voice is your power, and it’s more powerful than they want you to believe.
So don’t stop speaking, don’t stop creating, and don’t stop pushing. #FreeVDM is not just about one person; it’s about the future of youth expression in Nigeria. And we’re not backing down.
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