Social media activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has directly addressed the backlash over his invitation to speak at the ongoing Nigerian Bar Association Annual General Conference.
The activist appeared as a panellist on Tuesday at the 2026 NBA conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, during a session focused on insecurity and “Known Gunmen.” His inclusion on the panel had drawn sharp criticism from some lawyers who questioned why the association invited a social media personality, with some comparing it to previous controversial choices.
VeryDarkMan wasted little time responding to the critics.
“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 stated.
He stressed that the topic went far beyond formal courtroom language.
“This is not a topic of ‘may I, my lord’ because your lords are being kidnapped.”
The activist referenced the recent abduction of a judge who was travelling from Sokoto State and was kidnapped in Kebbi on July 26. The judge was held for about a week before being released.
Drawing from his own encounters with violence, VeryDarkMan described himself as a first responder in several high-profile attacks. He recalled the June 13, 2025 assault on Yelwata in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, where over 200 people were killed.
“In Yelwata, it was Fulani that attacked. It was a retaliation because a Fulani boy was killed and these guys came back to attack,” he said.
He added that he has personally witnessed the aftermath of killings, including scenes of blood and people burnt alive, and criticised the media for what he described as lazy coverage of such incidents.
“When the killings happen, our media are lazy, and they do not really cover these killings and the results of these unknown gunmen,” VeryDarkMan noted.
The session formed part of broader discussions at the conference, which runs from August 21 to 28 and has brought together lawyers, security experts and policymakers to examine the legal and institutional challenges fuelling insecurity across Nigeria.
By framing his role as that of an experiential contributor rather than a legal expert, VeryDarkMan sought to shut down the debate over his presence while keeping the focus on the human cost of violence that now reaches even members of the judiciary.