Activist says comment was unfair to personnel risking their lives, but maintains allegations against ‘bad eggs’
Social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has apologised to soldiers, police officers, customs and immigration personnel over remarks he made at the Nigerian Bar Association’s 66th Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The activist, in a video posted on Instagram on Friday, said he had reflected on his speech and realised that his description of security personnel as “unknown gunmen” was unfair to officers and men who were genuinely risking their lives to protect the country.
VeryDarkMan had made the controversial remarks during a discussion on insecurity at the NBA conference, where he referred to military, police, immigration and customs personnel as “unknown gunmen.”
In his latest video, however, he clarified that his intention was not to accuse all personnel in the security agencies of participating in criminal activities.
“I don’t think I was fair to a lot of people, particularly the speech where I said that the military are the unknown gunmen, the police are the unknown gunmen, you know, the immigration, the customs.
“I know exactly what I was trying to say because, I mean, I have evidence to back up my claim, but I wasn’t fair to a lot of people in that speech,” he said.
‘I wasn’t fair to fallen soldiers’
VeryDarkMan said his comments were particularly unfair to soldiers deployed to remote areas to fight Boko Haram and other security threats.
“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.
“I don’t think it’s fair to say they are also the unknown gunmen, to be very honest, because these people have laid down their lives,” he said.
The activist explained that his original argument was intended to draw attention to what he described as corruption and sabotage by some individuals within Nigeria’s security agencies.
“My speech was not to discourage you. My speech was entirely to talk about the bad eggs in our security operatives, our security forces, is to put attention on the bad eggs, so that the leaders in these security settings will look inward and to see that sometimes information are being leaked and their own people are sabotaging them,” he said.
He nevertheless acknowledged that the manner in which he made the argument gave the impression that he was making a blanket accusation against security personnel.
“But by passing that speech, like I said, it seems like I was generalising and it’s not fair to the fallen soldiers,” he said.
Apology to security chiefs, families
VeryDarkMan subsequently directed an apology to the Chief of Defence Staff and the leadership of the various security agencies.
“So I will go further to say to the Chief of Defence Staff, Sir, I really want to apologise for that speech, and I don’t want to discourage your boys.
“Please extend my apologies to your boys, to the ones that are in the bush protecting our lands,” he said.
He also apologised to the police, customs and immigration authorities and to relatives of security personnel who had died in the line of duty.
“To the families of these heroes that might have also felt offended by this speech, knowing fully well that their brother, their sister, their son, their husband fought and died for this country, I am really, really sorry,” he said.
The activist stressed that his criticism was directed at individuals he regarded as corrupt or involved in misconduct, rather than the entire security establishment.
“Yes, a lot of bad eggs there, like I said, a lot of bad eggs, a lot of them are there.
“A lot of corrupt generals, a lot of high-ranking police officers are corrupt, a lot of junior officers are corrupt, a lot of them are there. But there’s still a lot of more good people, a lot of more good people, and I know a lot of them,” he said.
‘VDM is one of us now’
VeryDarkMan said he was particularly concerned that his remarks could have a negative effect on soldiers serving in dangerous areas.
“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,” he said.
He also pointed to his interactions with some police officers as part of his understanding of the challenges facing the force.
“Me and police, we work steady. I give, sometimes I share police information, tell them, ‘Oh, this is what is happening here, please, can you intercept,” he said.
The activist urged security personnel carrying out their duties legitimately to remain focused despite his earlier comments.
“And please don’t be discouraged, please, please, don’t be discouraged.
“We’re there behind you now, and we’ll always support you. You know, and we are part of this thing, security is for all of us,” he said.
Maintains criticism of alleged sabotage
Despite his apology, VeryDarkMan maintained his criticism of personnel he accused of deliberately undermining security operations.
He warned those allegedly involved in sabotage, arms supply and the leaking of information to terrorists that he would continue to speak out against them.
“But then again, to the bad eggs, your days are numbered.
“To all of you in the military that are sabotaging and causing deaths to your officers, your days are numbered,” he said.
His comments at the NBA conference had attracted widespread condemnation, with some critics arguing that the remarks unfairly cast aspersions on security personnel who risk their lives in the fight against terrorism and other forms of insecurity.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria Femi Falana had earlier called for experienced speakers to handle specialised discussions at professional gatherings such as the NBA conference.
The apology marks a shift in tone from VeryDarkMan, who has previously raised allegations of misconduct involving security personnel, while maintaining that his concerns about alleged corruption and sabotage within the security system remain.