The ongoing saga of Nigerian social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has taken a new turn as his brother, Mark Vincent Otse, announced a bold protest strategy targeting Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank).
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This comes after VDM’s arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on May 1, 2025, following his vocal criticism of the agency and a dispute at GTBank over unauthorized deductions from his mother’s account. The detention has sparked widespread outrage among VDM’s supporters, known as “The Ratels,” who are now rallying for his release.
Mark Vincent Otse revealed plans for an unconventional protest scheduled for Monday, May 5, at GTBank’s Area 3 branch in Abuja. Unlike traditional street demonstrations, the protest will involve VDM’s family and loyal supporters collectively closing their GTBank accounts. Mark emphasized that this method aims to make a financial statement while avoiding interference from outsiders with ulterior motives who might disrupt their cause. “We are coming to conduct business on Monday. If una like, make una no open,” Mark declared, signaling a potential escalation that could impact the bank’s operations throughout the week.
The protest strategy has gained traction online, with supporters urging Nigerians to withdraw funds from GTBank in solidarity, accusing the bank of mishandling the situation that led to VDM’s arrest. VDM’s lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, has also criticized the EFCC, claiming the detention lacks lawful grounds.
As tensions rise, Nigerians are closely watching how this financial protest will unfold and whether it will pressure authorities to address VDM’s detention and the broader issues of accountability he champions.
