Hundreds of Nigerian youths have besieged the Area 3 branch of the Guaranty Trust Bank in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, protesting the arrest of a social media influencer Martin Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan.
The protesters, brandishing Nigerian flags and placards with varying pictures of VDM and bold writings, demanded for the unconditional release of VDM.
According to them, social media figure was kidnapped and that the bank was instrumental to his alleged abduction and incarceration.
Some of the inscriptions on their banners and placards read, “#FreeVDM’, #VeryDarkMan Didn’t Commit Any Offence by Demanding Justice,” #Very VeryDarkMan Now.”
They were seen chanting, “What we want is Free VDM” at the front of the bank as business activities were paralysed at the bank owing to the peaceful demonstration on Monday morning.
One of the protesters said, “On May 2, VDM was kidnapped by the EFCC at this point. That is why we have gathered to demand for his unconditional release.
“If the Federal Government thinks he has committed any offence, they can invite him and not lay ambush on him and abduct him like a criminal. VDM is not a criminal.”
THR POINT had reported that Deji Adeyanju, legal counsel to VeryDarkMan criticised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for his client’s continued detention amid growing public outcry.
Adeyanju posted about his client’s arrest on his social media pages on Friday.
Adeyanju disclosed that VDM was arrested by the anti-graft agency at a Guaranty Trust Bank branch alongside C-Pack.
He raised the alarm hours after VDM posted on his Instagram page that he and his mother were at GTBank to seek clarification over persistent debits from her account.
In a statement issued by Adeyanju’s law firm and signed by Zainab Otega, he disclosed that VDM and his friend Steven ‘C-Pack’ Avuara were apprehended immediately after stepping out of a GTBank branch.
According to him, they are currently detained by EFCC operatives attached to Unit 4 of the Commission’s Special Duty Committee.
Prominent personalities in the country including Peter Obi, David among others have joined in the call for VDM’s release.