Activist and social media influencer Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has declared his willingness to personally confront the suspected insurgents behind the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State, speaking during a protest in Ibadan on Tuesday, June 16.
One month after dozens of pupils and their teachers were kidnapped from the Ahoro-Esinle and Yawota communities in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15, anguish among affected families continues to grow, despite repeated assurances of a safe rescue from President Bola Tinubu, Governor Seyi Makinde, and other officials.
Critics note that the incident has since spiralled from an isolated abduction into a prolonged crisis, disrupting schooling, destabilising communities, and leaving families caught between hope and despair.
Speaking during the protest, VDM urged Governor Makinde to resist being intimidated by the captors, warning that hesitation only emboldens criminals.
He cautioned that unchecked terrorists could eventually impose levies on Oyo farmers simply to access their own land.
Drawing a comparison to the 2014 Chibok abduction, he said:
“Sir, in 2014, it took so much time. That you want the perfect time to go and rescue them, they will keep those children there for long. And then they may even marry them off to other kidnappers.”
He added:
“At the end of the day, the more the collateral damage to send the message to these kidnappers once and for all.”
Pressing further, VDM declared:
“So, please, sir, that is why we are saying enough is enough. And if you are ready, we are all ready to go with you into the bush and do it today or tomorrow.”
He warned that failure to push back against the attackers could embolden them to “claim the land,” potentially forcing farmers to pay levies just to remain in the state.
Referencing the killing of an abducted teacher, he stated:
“You did not go into the bush when they killed the teacher. Nobody tried to force themselves inside and they killed the teacher.” He concluded: “I think this is the time you let those terrorists and those bandits know that we actually don’t care. There would be collateral damage and we are ready for it.”
Watch the video below:
“One last thing Mr Gov, if you’re waiting for the perfect time to go rescue those children, they’ll keep them there for long and even marry them off to other k!dnapp£rs. We’re ready to enter the bush with you today or tomorrow and we know there’ll be c0llateral damag£ and we’re… pic.twitter.com/cRLCaLj1Oq
— Oyindamola🙄 (@dammiedammie35) June 16, 2026
