Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has condemned the arrest of social media activist Martin Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), describing the manner of his apprehension as excessive and alarming.
Otse was reportedly detained by police on Friday at a Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) branch in Abuja, where he had accompanied his mother to address issues related to unauthorised withdrawals from her account. Human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju was among the first to raise concerns about the incident.
In a statement, Obi criticised the arrest as lacking transparency and resembling an abduction. “The display of force, lacking in transparency and civility, closely resembled an abduction,” he said. “This disturbing method not only creates fear but also risks being mimicked by criminal elements.”
While acknowledging the authority of law enforcement agencies to arrest suspects, Obi urged them to act in ways that build public confidence. He warned that blurring the lines between lawful arrest and criminal abduction could undermine national security and the rule of law.
“Was it impossible to invite Mr. Otse in a civil, transparent, and legal manner?” Obi asked. “Would that not have spared Nigerians, GTBank, and our national image the unnecessary shame and losses we now witness?”
The former Anambra State governor also raised concerns over what he described as an increasingly repressive environment, particularly towards young Nigerians. He referenced the recent case of Atiku Isah, the factional president of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), who alleged that he was abducted and coerced into resigning after accusing Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, of interference in student affairs.
Obi warned against efforts to silence or manipulate youth voices. “Nigeria’s youth should not feel coerced, silenced, or absorbed into political agendas that do not reflect their will,” he said. “The oppression of young voices, whether through force, patronage, or intimidation, is a dangerous path that we must not normalise.”
Nzubechukwu Eze.
