VeryDarkMan Fires Back at Critics, Details Horrors of Insecurity and Threats to Judges at NBA Conference

Popular social media commentator and activist Martins Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), sparked intense debate after taking the stage as a panelist at the ongoing 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Addressing backlash from legal practitioners who questioned why an unlicensed commentator was granted a speaking slot, VDM clarified that his panel session, centered on the theme of “Unknown Known Gunmen,” was designed to bring frontline reality into academic legal discussions. The activist told the audience that he was not present to lecture attorneys on courtroom procedures, but rather to shed light on how insecurity is directly jeopardizing the lives of ordinary citizens and judicial officers.

Emphasizing that violence in Nigeria has breached formal institutions, VDM pointed out that judges are no longer exempt from violent abductions. He cited the case of a Sokoto-based judge kidnapped while traveling through Kebbi State, cautioning lawyers that judicial arguments mean little if judicial officers themselves face constant danger on public highways.

VDM also reflected on his personal observations as a first-hand responder at scenes of mass violence, including retaliatory attacks in Yelwata, Benue State, and bomb explosions in Borno State. He strongly criticized mainstream media outlets for superficial reporting on tragic killings, urging both the press and the legal community to confront the root causes of insecurity and demand accountability for victims across the nation.