PORT HARCOURT, NIGERIA — Social media influencer and activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, received a recognition award at the 2026 Nigerian Bar Association Annual General Conference on Tuesday for his advocacy work on insecurity and his contributions to raising public awareness about Nigeria’s security challenges .
The award was presented following his appearance as a panellist at the conference, where he spoke on the topic “Known Unknown Gunmen” and shared his firsthand experiences covering violent incidents across the country . The conference, running from August 21 to 28 in Port Harcourt, has brought together lawyers and other prominent figures to discuss Nigeria’s legal system and wider national concerns .
Speaking to lawyers at the conference, VeryDarkMan, who described himself as an “online police,” attributed insecurity in Nigeria to political factors and those who benefit from the current situation . “I think the root of insecurity is politics. The people who benefit from it are the ones who cause it: the government, the police, the military men. The people are the sacrificial lamb, and they don’t benefit from anything,” he stated .
The activist also linked the issue of cattle roaming across the country to politics, alleging that the business has government backing and is used for money laundering. He questioned the number of checkpoints across the country, particularly along the Abuja-Lokoja axis, despite frequent reports of kidnapping on the route .
VeryDarkMan defended his invitation to the conference, telling critics that he came to share personal experiences of insecurity rather than to lecture lawyers on the law . “I’m not here to teach you people law; I’m here to share experience,” he said, arguing that the discussion went beyond legal arguments given that insecurity has reached even members of the judiciary . He referenced the case of a judge abducted in Kebbi on July 26 while travelling from Sokoto, who spent about a week in captivity before regaining freedom .
VDM said his perspective on insecurity comes from direct exposure to the scenes of several attacks. “I was the first respondent at Yelwata. I was also the first respondent when some women were killed some time ago,” he said, adding that he had witnessed the aftermath of a Sallah Day bombing in Borno State .
His appearance generated mixed reactions on social media, with some questioning the decision to invite a social media activist to an event attended by senior lawyers, while others praised his presence and influence . One X user wrote, “VDM invited to NBA conference after all the book wey una read? Ehn Nigeria Lawyers,” while another commented, “Young man of just 32 years of age, commanding such presence and power. Love seeing this” .
Following his speech, VDM was presented with an award for sharing his experience and contributions to public discourse on insecurity . He later apologised after a military representative cautioned him against making claims he could not prove .
The presentation of the award underscores the growing recognition of civil society voices, including social media activists, in shaping public discourse on national security issues. For VeryDarkMan, the recognition at one of Nigeria’s most prestigious professional gatherings represents a significant moment in his journey from social media commentator to national advocate for security accountability.
