On Monday, protesters gathered at the headquarters of GTBank in Abuja. Their message was loud and clear: release social media activist Martins Otse, better known as VeryDarkMan (VDM).
The crowd held placards with messages like “#FreeVDM,” “Activism is not a crime,” and “VDM is the voice of the people.” Some protesters even drove through the streets, shouting slogans from moving vehicles.
VeryDarkMan was recently arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The charges relate to cyberstalking. But his supporters believe there is more to it. They say his arrest is a move to silence him because of his outspoken views.
His lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, claims he was arrested inside GTBank. That claim sparked anger online, with many accusing the bank of playing a role in the arrest. In response, GTBank released CCTV footage. The bank says the arrest did not happen on its premises. It also denied having any involvement and called for a fair investigation.
Since his arrest, the #FreeVDM campaign has exploded on social media. Human rights groups and ordinary Nigerians are now speaking up. They are asking the government to protect freedom of speech and stop silencing critical voices.
This situation has started a bigger conversation about free speech and civil rights in Nigeria. Many now wonder how activists can safely express themselves without fear of harassment or arrest.
For now, the public is still waiting to see what happens next. But one thing is clear: the demand to free VeryDarkMan is growing louder each day.
For more stories like this, visit NaijaBeats.com
