VERYDARKMAN RETRACTS GENERALISATION, APOLOGISES TO SECURITY AGENCIES OVER NBA REMARKS

Social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has apologised to members of Nigeria’s security agencies over comments he made during the Nigerian Bar Association’s 66th Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Otse issued the apology in a video shared on Friday after reflecting on his remarks at the conference. He acknowledged that his comments, which referred to the military, police, immigration and customs personnel as “unknown gunmen” while discussing insecurity in Nigeria, could have unfairly portrayed security personnel who are genuinely putting their lives at risk to protect citizens.

According to the activist, his intention was not to accuse every member of the security agencies of participating in criminal activities. He explained that he was attempting to draw attention to what he described as the activities of “bad eggs” within the security system, particularly individuals whom he alleged could be involved in corruption, information leaks and acts of sabotage.

Otse said he was especially concerned about soldiers deployed to Nigeria’s troubled areas to confront Boko Haram and other threats. He admitted that describing such personnel as “unknown gunmen” was inappropriate because many of them have made significant sacrifices, with some losing their lives while carrying out their duties.

The activist subsequently directed his apology to the Chief of Defence Staff and the leadership of the various security agencies. He said he did not want his comments to discourage soldiers and other officers who continue to risk their lives in the line of duty.

While apologising, however, Otse maintained his position that misconduct exists within parts of the security establishment. He alleged that there are corrupt officers at different levels and argued that security authorities should identify and address individuals whose actions undermine operations and contribute to the deaths of fellow personnel.

He stressed that his criticism was not intended as an attack on the security forces as a whole, insisting that there are still many dedicated and responsible officers serving Nigerians. He said the major problem with his original speech was that the way he communicated his concerns made it appear as though he was making a blanket accusation against all security personnel.

The apology comes after Otse's appearance at the NBA conference generated considerable controversy. His participation in a panel discussion on insecurity had attracted criticism from some members of the legal profession, including Senior Advocate of Nigeria Femi Falana, who questioned the appropriateness of his role at the event and argued that specialised discussions should be handled by experienced professionals.

The police had also challenged Otse to provide evidence backing some of the allegations he made against security personnel. In response at the time, the activist dared the authorities to take him to court, saying he would present the evidence he claimed to possess.

In his latest video, however, Otse acknowledged that his message was poorly communicated and that his sweeping description had been unfair to people who were genuinely serving the country. He maintained that his objective was to call attention to alleged wrongdoing within the system rather than undermine the reputation of Nigeria's security agencies.