NBA recognises VeryDarkMan for contribution to national discourse at 2026 conference
By Damilola Akinwale –
Controversial social media influencer, Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has received an award of recognition from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) during its ongoing 2026 Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The award was presented to VeryDarkMan on Tuesday for his participation as a panellist at the conference, where he shared his views on insecurity and other national issues.
Speaking during the session, the influencer expressed concern over insecurity in the country and criticised what he described as inadequate media coverage of killings.
“This is not a topic of ‘may I, my lord’ because your lords are being kidnapped,” he said, while recalling the reported abduction of a judge travelling from Sokoto State who, according to him, was kidnapped in Kebbi State on July 26 and released about a week later.
He also criticised the media for what he described as insufficient coverage of insecurity-related issues, including attacks and killings. “When the killings happened, our media are now lazy, and they do not really cover these killings and the results of these unknown gunmen,” he said.
VeryDarkMan also recounted witnessing the aftermath of the June 13, 2025, attack on Yelwata in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, which reportedly killed more than 200 people and destroyed properties worth millions of naira. According to him, the violence was a retaliatory attack following the killing of a Fulani boy.
He further mentioned an incident he described as a Sallah Day bombing in Borno, as well as incidents involving the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and a post office.
The conference, which is being held from August 21 to 28, has attracted lawyers and other prominent figures for discussions on Nigeria’s legal system and broader national issues.
