Social media influencer Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has addressed his invitation to the 2026 Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), saying he was invited to share his experiences on insecurity rather than lecture lawyers on legal matters.
Speaking as a panellist at the conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Tuesday, VeryDarkMan said his experiences covering insecurity across the country gave him a perspective worth sharing with legal professionals.
“I’m not here to teach you people law; I’m here to share experience,” he said.
‘Your lords are being kidnapped’
VeryDarkMan questioned the relevance of traditional courtroom expressions amid the worsening security situation, particularly the reported abduction of a judge travelling from Sokoto State.
“This is not a topic of ‘may I, my lord’ because your lords are being kidnapped,” he said.
He also criticised the media for what he described as inadequate coverage of killings and attacks linked to insecurity.
Recalls Yelwata attack
The influencer further spoke about the June 2025 attack on Yelwata in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, where more than 200 people were reportedly killed.
VeryDarkMan claimed he was among the first responders at the scene and said he had witnessed the consequences of violent attacks firsthand.
He alleged that the Yelwata attack was carried out by Fulani attackers as retaliation for the killing of a Fulani boy.
His claim comes amid an ongoing court case over the attack. A prosecution witness had earlier testified that some Fulani chiefs allegedly sponsored armed men to carry out the assault.
Calls for stronger attention to insecurity
VeryDarkMan’s appearance at the NBA conference has generated discussion, particularly over the role of social media personalities in national conversations on insecurity and justice.
He maintained that his contribution was based on personal experience and his exposure to communities affected by violence, rather than professional legal expertise.
