Social media critic and influencer Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has triggered widespread reactions after posting a video showing his encounter with alleged armed thugs in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Tuesday, June 16, 2026.
Prior to the incident, several videos circulating online showed VDM spearheading a protest in Ibadan alongside supporters of the Ratel Movement.
The demonstration was centered on urgent calls for government intervention over the growing cases of kidnapping, banditry, and general insecurity across Oyo State.
As the protest gained attention online, reports soon emerged suggesting rising tension at the scene, with claims that a group of suspected thugs attempted to disrupt the gathering.
VDM later took to his social media platforms to share a video clip capturing what he described as a direct confrontation between protesters and the alleged intruders.
In the caption accompanying the footage, he alleged that the group arrived armed with dangerous objects. “To the people that sent the thugs.. ASK THEM HOW FA. THEY SHOT AT US,THEY THREW BOTTLES AND STONES,we ran towards them.”
Meanwhile, earlier reports indicate that VeryDarkMan had met with Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, who reportedly pledged to go to extraordinary lengths to secure the release of 46 schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15.
During the engagement, the governor was quoted as saying: “If you ask me, can I sacrifice myself for those children to come out? I will do it. I have lived a good life; I’m almost 60, and it doesn’t matter. Our children will never be in the same situation as the Chibok children,”
Following the incident, social media users flooded the comment section with mixed reactions, sharing their opinions on the unfolding events:
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annytouches7 commented: “nothing una fit tell this guy get juju.”
DKellyTheop082 said: “South west states issa fulll of thugs… So they can not use their thuggery lifestyle and enter bush to rescue almost 46 children and mothers in the bush for getting to one month.”
alakedup commented: “As far as I’m concerned, Ratel is the only group standing up to this government, others are beneficiaries.”
lordjames_M wrote: “I’m beginning to see his movement as becoming too strong !!! Which would surely lead to strong men seeing him as a force and work to pull him down!!! Soonest.”
