Why I was invited to speak at NBA conference — VeryDarkMan

Social media activist and commentator Martins Otse, known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has explained his invitation to speak at the ongoing Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) conference, telling critics he came to share personal experiences of insecurity, not to lecture lawyers on the law.

VDM featured as a panellist at the NBA’s 2026 Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Tuesday, where he spoke on insecurity and the plight of victims of violence. The conference, running from August 21 to 28, has brought together lawyers and other prominent figures to discuss Nigeria’s legal system and wider national concerns.

Reacting to questions over why he was invited, VDM said his critics may have missed the point of the session, titled “Unknown Known Gunmen.”

“There has been a lot of debate about why I was invited to this NBA conference. I’m not here to teach you people law; I’m here to share experience,” he said.

He argued that the discussion went beyond legal arguments, noting that insecurity has reached even members of the judiciary.

“This is not a topic of ‘may I, my lord’ because your lords are being kidnapped,” he said.

To back this up, VDM referenced the case of a judge abducted in Kebbi on July 26 while travelling from Sokoto, who spent about a week in captivity before regaining freedom.

He further faulted the media for what he called poor coverage of attacks and their aftermath.

“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.

VDM said his perspective on insecurity comes from direct exposure to the scenes of several attacks.

“I was the first respondent at Yelwata. I was also the first respondent when some women were killed some time ago,” he said.

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He described witnessing the aftermath of a Sallah Day bombing in Borno State, alongside incidents linked to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and a post office.

“I have seen blood and seen people burnt alive,” he said.

On the Yelwata attack specifically, VDM said it stemmed from a cycle of retaliation.

“In Yelwata, it was Fulani that attacked. It was a retaliation because a Fulani boy was killed and these guys came back to attack,” he said.

He insisted his role at the conference was to bring real-world experience of insecurity into the discussion, rather than to instruct lawyers on legal procedure.