By Ayomide Otitoju
Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has condemned the arrest of social media commentator Martin Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), describing the manner of the operation as alarming and reminiscent of an abduction.
In a statement issued Sunday, Obi said the incident was carried out in a fashion that “left many Nigerians unsettled” and blurred the line between lawful arrest and extrajudicial conduct.
“If citizens can no longer distinguish between a legitimate arrest and a kidnapping, we risk losing a critical element of national security and democratic accountability,” Obi said.
He recalled previous instances where even judges—the custodians of justice—were treated with similar disregard, warning that such patterns erode public confidence in the rule of law.
Obi also expressed concern about the impact of such actions on the economy, particularly following the backlash against GTBank, which has been allegedly linked to VDM’s arrest. “At a time when investor confidence is already fragile, we must avoid actions that tarnish institutions or undermine trust,” he said.
“Would it not have been more prudent to invite Mr. Otse in a civil and legal manner?” Obi questioned, lamenting the reputational damage caused by what he described as a mishandled situation.
Obi also pointed to a broader suppression of youth voices, citing the alleged abduction of a NANS President as part of a trend that threatens the independence of student leadership.
“We must return to a Nigeria where youth can speak freely, judges can serve with dignity, and institutions act responsibly. That is the Nigeria we must rebuild,” he concluded.
