Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticized the arrest of social media influencer and activist, Martins Vincent Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, who was detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday, May 2, 2025.
Atiku, in a statement issued on Monday, May 5, expressed disapproval of President Bola Tinubu’s administration for repeatedly arresting those who oppose government policies. He described the trend as a disgraceful move that aims to silence dissenting voices.
Atiku condemned the handling of Otse’s case, particularly the fact that the activist remains in detention without formal charges. He described this as a clear violation of Otse’s rights and a sign of growing authoritarian practices under the current government.
The former presidential candidate warned that such actions could threaten Nigeria’s democracy. He pointed out that security forces appear quick to target critics of the governmentujh while ignoring corruption charges against political allies who remain free from prosecution.
He concluded that the ongoing crackdown on opposition voices under the Tinubu administration is a direct attack on democratic values and must be strongly opposed.
