Human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju has revealed that social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has been detained by the Nigerian Police. This development follows a viral video in which VeryDarkMan humorously apologized to the police for donning an outfit resembling their uniform in one of his recent online posts.
The situation escalated after VeryDarkMan shared a clip where he dressed in police attire and referred to himself as a “Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) of the Online Division.” His playful approach, however, was met with backlash, as many perceived it as an inappropriate use of the police uniform. In response to the outcry, the Nigerian Police condemned the video and initiated an investigation into the matter, emphasizing the seriousness of impersonating law enforcement officials.
In a social media post on the platform X on Thursday night, Deji Adeyanju announced that VeryDarkMan was detained after responding to a police invitation. Adeyanju noted, “Our client, VDM has been detained after honouring police invitation just like yesterday,” referring to the recent events surrounding VeryDarkMan’s activities. He also pointed out VDM’s consistent stance of viewing the police as allies, despite the broader public sentiment regarding police relations in Nigeria.
Following the backlash over his video, VeryDarkMan issued a public apology, urging Nigerians to seek proper authorization before wearing police uniforms to avoid misunderstandings or potential legal ramifications.
In his apology video, he explained, “Back from the police station where I was interrogated based on the post I made wearing a costume that the police claim is similar to theirs. I didn’t intend to impersonate the police in any way and I tender my unreserved apologies to the Nigeria Police Force and the office of the Inspector General of Police.”
The incident has sparked discussions about the boundaries of social media activism, the appropriateness of humor in sensitive contexts, and the relationship between the Nigerian public and law enforcement. As the situation unfolds, many are watching closely to see how the police will handle VeryDarkMan’s case and the implications it may have for other social media activists in Nigeria.
