Social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has responded to criticism over his invitation to speak at the Nigerian Bar Association’s (NBA) 2026 Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
VDM spoke on Tuesday during a plenary session at the conference, which is holding from August 21 to 28. He was listed as a panellist for a session focused on insecurity and the legal and institutional challenges surrounding violence in Nigeria.
His inclusion in the programme had generated mixed reactions, with some lawyers and members of the public questioning why a social media personality was invited to address a gathering of legal professionals. Others defended the decision, arguing that VDM could contribute perspectives based on his experiences and public advocacy on insecurity and other social issues.
Responding to the criticism, VDM said he was not invited to teach law but to share his experiences of insecurity and encounters with victims of violence.
“There has been a lot of debate about why I was invited to this NBA conference. I’m not here to teach you people law; I’m here to share experience,” he said during the session.
He argued that the subject of the session went beyond conventional legal discussions because insecurity has affected members of the legal profession and the wider public.
“This is not a topic of ‘may I, my lord’ because your lords are being kidnapped,” he said, referring to the security challenges facing Nigerians, including members of the judiciary.
VDM cited the reported abduction of a judge travelling from Sokoto, whom he said was kidnapped in Kebbi on July 26 and released after about a week in captivity.
The activist also spoke about his reported experiences at scenes of violence, saying he had witnessed the aftermath of attacks and had interacted with victims.
“I was the first respondent at Yelwata. I was also the first respondent when some women were killed some time ago,” he said.
He further claimed to have witnessed the aftermath of several attacks and explosions, including an incident he described as a Sallah Day bombing in Borno, as well as incidents involving the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and a post office. These accounts were presented by VDM as personal experiences.
VDM also criticised the media for what he described as inadequate coverage of violent attacks and their consequences.
“When the killings happened, our media are now lazy and they do not really cover these killings and the results of these unknown gunmen,” he said.
Speaking about the violence in Yelwata, VDM claimed that the attack was retaliatory and followed the killing of a Fulani boy. His account of the motive and circumstances of the attack was not independently established in the reports reviewed.
The NBA’s annual conference has brought together lawyers, judges, security officials and other stakeholders for discussions on Nigeria’s legal system and broader national issues. VDM’s participation was part of the conference’s wider discussion on insecurity.
The controversy surrounding his invitation has consequently highlighted a broader debate over whether professional conferences should include unconventional voices with practical experiences and substantial public influence alongside formally qualified professionals.
VDM maintained that his role at the conference was to provide perspectives from outside the courtroom and contribute to the discussion on Nigeria’s worsening security challenges.
