VeryDarkMan: Apologizes to Security Agencies for NBA Speech Remarks

• Social media activist VeryDarkMan publicly apologised to Nigerian security agencies for controversial remarks.
• His apology, shared in a video on Friday, addressed comments made at the Nigerian Bar Association’s 66th Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
• Otse had previously described military, police, customs, and immigration personnel as "unknown gunmen" during a discussion on insecurity.
• He admitted his statements were unfair and appeared to generalize, particularly to soldiers fighting Boko Haram and families of fallen personnel.
• The activist clarified his original intent was to highlight corruption and internal sabotage by "bad eggs" within the forces, not to discourage all personnel.

The social media activist acknowledged that his presentation had inadvertently created a generalisation, which he deemed unfair, particularly to those who had made the ultimate sacrifice for the nation.

Martins Vincent Otse, widely recognized as the social media activist VeryDarkMan, has issued a public apology to various Nigerian security agencies, including soldiers, policemen, customs, and immigration personnel. The apology, delivered via a video shared on Friday, addressed controversial remarks he made during a recent public engagement. Otse stated that upon reflection, he realized his previous comments were unjust to security operatives who are actively risking their lives in service to the nation.

The activist specifically extended his apologies to General Olufemi Oluyede, the Chief of Defence Staff, and the leadership across the security agencies. He also conveyed his regret to the police, customs, and immigration authorities. A particularly poignant aspect of his apology was directed at the families of fallen security personnel, acknowledging that his earlier statements might have caused them offense, given the sacrifices made by their loved ones for the country.

The apology stems from statements Otse made at the Nigerian Bar Association’s 66th Annual General Conference, which took place in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. During a discussion on insecurity, VeryDarkMan had controversially labeled military, police, immigration, and customs personnel as "unknown gunmen." This characterization drew significant attention and criticism, prompting his subsequent video apology.

While Otse admitted that his argument, as presented, appeared to generalize, he clarified that his original intent was not to accuse all security personnel of criminal involvement. He acknowledged the unfairness of his broad statements, especially towards soldiers actively engaged in combating threats like Boko Haram in challenging environments, emphasizing that it was not fair to imply they were also "unknown gunmen" given their dedication.

VeryDarkMan explained that the core purpose of his initial speech was to highlight alleged corruption and sabotage perpetrated by certain individuals within the security agencies. He aimed to draw attention to what he termed "bad eggs" within the forces, hoping that leaders in these security settings would investigate internal issues such as information leaks and internal sabotage. He reiterated that his intention was never to discourage the dedicated personnel.

Despite his controversial allegations against some personnel, Otse maintained that a significant number of "good people" still exist within the security agencies. He acknowledged the presence of corrupt individuals, including high-ranking officers and generals, but stressed that these do not represent the entire force. The activist expressed concern that his previous comments could potentially demoralize a soldier on active duty, particularly one fighting in remote areas, if they were to encounter his video.

Source: Original reporting via PUNCH