On Friday, September 4, 2026, Nigerian social activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, apologised to soldiers, police officers, customs personnel and immigration officers over remarks he made during the Nigerian Bar Association’s 66th Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Otse said he had reflected on his comments and accepted that his description of security agencies as “unknown gunmen” was unfair to personnel who risk their lives protecting Nigerians.
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“I don’t think I was fair to a lot of people,” Otse said in a video shared on Friday, adding that his remarks had been directed at alleged “bad eggs” within the security system rather than the entire security establishment.
His comments followed a panel discussion at the NBA conference on Nigeria’s insecurity, where Otse spoke about his experiences around communities affected by violence and questioned the conduct of some security personnel.
He had particularly criticised alleged corruption, information leaks and sabotage within the security architecture, arguing that such conduct could contribute to criminal attacks.
However, Otse acknowledged that the way he delivered the argument created an impression that he was accusing all security personnel of complicity.
He said that distinction was important, particularly for soldiers deployed to conflict zones and facing Boko Haram and other armed groups.
“That speech was not fair, especially to the soldiers that are in the bushes fighting Boko Haram to protect our lands, to protect our lives, and to protect our families,” he said.
Otse subsequently directed his apology to the Chief of Defence Staff and the wider leadership of Nigeria’s security agencies.
He also asked that his apology be extended to personnel serving in difficult and dangerous environments.
The activist extended the apology to the families of fallen security officers, recognising that some personnel had died while serving the country.
The VeryDarkMan apology does not amount to a complete withdrawal of his concerns about misconduct.
Otse maintained that he believes there are corrupt officials within the security agencies and said his intention had been to draw attention to those individuals rather than undermine legitimate security operations.
“Yes, a lot of bad eggs there,” he said, while also stressing that there were “a lot of more good people” within the agencies.
He explained that he was concerned his earlier remarks could have an unintended effect on officers serving on the front line.
“Imagine a soldier fighting in the bush and he watches VDM’s video, and he’s like, ‘Ah, VDM is one of us now, unknown gunman.’ That would discourage him, to be honest,” Otse said.
The controversy surrounding Otse’s NBA appearance had already grown beyond his comments on insecurity.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria Femi Falana had questioned the decision to invite the social media personality to speak at the conference, arguing that discussions on national security should feature people with established professional experience in the field.
Otse’s appearance came during a panel session titled “Known Gunmen or Unknown Gunmen”, where he discussed his experiences covering insecurity and visiting communities affected by killings and attacks.
The activist has also faced scrutiny over separate allegations concerning the conduct of police officers at checkpoints.
He previously claimed that some officers allegedly passed information about wealthy travellers to kidnappers, prompting the police to challenge him to provide evidence.
Despite the backlash, Otse said he remained willing to speak about alleged wrongdoing within the security system.
His latest intervention, however, struck a more conciliatory tone. He urged genuine patriots serving in the military, police, immigration and customs services not to be discouraged by his earlier comments.
“To the patriots, to the heroes, to our fallen heroes that have died to protect this country… I am really, really sorry,” he said.
The episode highlights the difficult balance between holding security institutions accountable and recognising the sacrifices of personnel operating in dangerous conditions. Otse’s apology appears aimed at drawing that distinction more clearly, while preserving his criticism of individuals he believes may be undermining the fight against insecurity.
He concluded by urging Nigerians to support security personnel genuinely working to protect the country.
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“Keep on fighting for our beloved country, God bless all of you. We Nigerians are with you,” Otse said.
Peculiar Adirika is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
