Peter Obi Condemns VDM’s Arrest, Compares Method to Abduction
Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has strongly criticised the arrest of social media activist Martin Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), describing the method of his apprehension as disturbingly similar to an abduction.
In a statement released on Sunday, Obi said the incident has unsettled many Nigerians, warning that such practices blur the line between lawful arrest and criminal activity:
“If Nigerians begin to struggle to distinguish between legitimate arrests and unlawful abductions, we will lose a vital layer of national security and accountability.”
Obi noted that this trend is not new, recalling past incidents where even judges—“the last line of defence for justice”—have been subjected to similar treatment, thereby eroding public confidence in the rule of law.
He also referenced the reputational damage to GTBank, which has been linked—allegedly—to circumstances surrounding VDM’s arrest. The backlash, he warned, is a reflection of broader concerns about how such incidents affect the business environment and investor confidence:
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“At a time when investor confidence is already fragile, we must do all we can to avoid actions that tarnish institutions or undermine the trust of both citizens and the international community.”
Obi questioned why law enforcement could not have invited VDM in a “civil, transparent, and legal manner,” arguing it would have spared the country the current controversy and embarrassment.
The LP leader also raised concern over a recent alleged abduction of a NANS President, which he says threatens the independence of student leadership and signals an erosion of democratic participation by young people.
Obi concluded with a call for a return to justice, dignity, and institutional responsibility, warning that intimidation of youth voices must never be normalized:
“We must return to a Nigeria where justice is done and is seen to be done without theatrics or abuse… That is the Nigeria we must rebuild.”
