Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has strongly criticised the arrest of social media activist Martin Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), calling the manner of the arrest deeply troubling and reminiscent of an abduction.
Otse was reportedly picked up by police officers on Friday at a Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) branch in Abuja, where he had accompanied his mother to resolve unauthorised withdrawals from her account. Human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju was among the first to raise the alarm about the arrest.
In a statement, Obi described the operation as excessive and lacking the transparency expected in a democratic society. “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.”
Obi acknowledged that while law enforcement agencies have the right to make arrests, their approach must inspire public trust, not fear. He warned that when citizens can no longer distinguish between lawful arrests and criminal abductions, national security and accountability are at risk.
“Was it impossible to invite Mr. Otse in a civil, transparent, and legal manner?” Obi questioned. “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 expressed concern about the growing climate of repression in the country, particularly against young people. He drew attention to the recent alleged abduction of Atiku Isah, the factional president of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).
Isah recently accused Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, of interfering in NANS affairs and claimed that associates of the president’s son tortured and coerced him into resigning on April 16, 2025.
Obi cautioned against the suppression of youth voices in a democratic society, stating: “Nigeria’s youth should not feel coerced, silenced, or absorbed into political agendas that do not reflect their will.”
“The oppression of young voices, whether through force, patronage, or intimidation, is a dangerous path that we must not normalise,” he added.