The family and close associates of Nigerian online critic Vincent Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), have shared fresh updates on his condition following his arrest on May 1.
VDM’s brother, Mark, and his friend, Kokopee, attempted to visit him at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission headquarters in Abuja a day after his arrest.
The duo brought along fruits and drinks with the intention of providing him with food during his detention.
However, they were denied access to see him.
According to Mark, officials at the EFCC cited a directive barring any visitors from seeing VDM or giving him food.
“They said there’s a standing order that nobody should see VDM today, even to give him food, that they would feed him,” he stated.
Recall that VeryDarkMan was taken into custody after he accompanied his mother to a bank to address deductions from her salary account over an alleged loan she never secured.
The arrest has since sparked public debate, with concerns mounting about the conditions of his detention.
Adding to the growing unease, Kokopee had earlier alleged that there were plans to poison the activist, a claim that has further heightened tensions among VDM’s supporters.
He also described how VDM was allegedly manhandled in front of his mother during the incident at the bank.
Following the update on their failed attempt to provide food, social media users have expressed concern about the critic’s welfare, calling for transparency from the authorities and fair treatment while he remains in custody.
