New details have emerged about the dramatic arrest of social media activist Martins Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), in a coordinated security operation involving the Nigeria Police Force, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Department of State Services (DSS).
VDM was taken into custody last Friday at a bank in Area 3, Abuja, over allegations of cyberstalking. Eyewitnesses reported that he was forcefully apprehended by armed operatives in full public view.
A senior security official confirmed that the arrest was carried out under a court-issued warrant and stemmed from “multiple petitions” filed against the outspoken online figure.
“It was a joint operation. After his initial interrogation by the EFCC, the police will take over, followed by the DSS. VDM has a long journey ahead of him,” the source told The Nation.
EFCC denies VDM’s arrest as mass protest rocks Abuja
While VDM’s lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, claimed that his client was being held by the EFCC, the commission denied having him in custody, fueling further confusion over his detention status.
The arrest has since ignited street protests in Abuja.
On Monday, May 5, dozens of youths blocked key roads near Berger Bridge in Wuse and later gathered at the EFCC headquarters in Jabi, demanding VDM’s release.
Protesters chanted slogans like “He’s not a thief” and “Release VDM,” while holding placards decrying the arrest as politically motivated.
“This is absolutely unacceptable. Demanding accountability is not a crime,” Adeyanju said, calling for his client’s immediate release.
As public pressure mounts and legal ambiguity surrounds his detention, VDM’s arrest has reignited debates over free speech, digital activism, and state surveillance in Nigeria.
