Monday, May 5, 2025
A massive protest is currently ongoing at the Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) branch in Abuja, following the arrest of popular social media activist Martins Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan (VDM).
The protest, led by concerned youths, was triggered by reports that VDM was detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju confirmed the arrest in a post on X (formerly Twitter), alleging that the activist was lured and detained with the cooperation of GTBank staff.
“VDM was locked inside the GTBank exit door for over five minutes to enable EFCC arrest him and his friend,” Adeyanju wrote. “VDM refused to come out of the cell; he said he wouldn’t see anyone. Our legal team will be taking action against GTBank for the inhumane treatment meted out to our client.”
Since the announcement, fans and supporters across the country have called for a boycott of GTBank, with some customers reportedly closing their accounts in protest.
A source within the EFCC, speaking anonymously, confirmed VDM’s arrest, stating: “We picked him up based on multiple complaints that he used his social media platforms to harass, insult, and intimidate individuals — actions that may violate the Cybercrimes Act of 2015.”
However, the source declined to provide details on the complainants or the specific nature of the allegations.
The arrest has sparked online outrage, with thousands expressing support for VDM using the hashtag #FreeVDM.
“You may not like his tone or style, but you can’t deny that VeryDarkMan speaks up when many stay silent,” one user, @Choji_ES, posted. “He’s loud but for the voiceless. Let’s not stay silent on this!”
In a show of cross-border solidarity, a Ghanaian TV host described VDM’s movement as “beyond Nigeria,” recalling his visit to rural Ghana to provide access to water, transportation, and better learning environments for children.
Veteran Nigerian rapper Eedris Abdulkareem also voiced his support during a live performance, saying, “Any government that is suffering Nigerians, may God punish all of them,” while demanding VDM’s immediate release.
Watch videos of the protest below: