Social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has apologised to soldiers, police officers, customs and immigration personnel for remarks he made at the Nigerian Bar Association’s 66th Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt.
In a video shared on Friday, Otse said he had reflected on his speech and concluded that he had been unfair to security personnel who risk their lives daily to protect Nigerians. Speaking on a panel that discussed insecurity, he had described military, police, immigration and customs personnel as “unknown gunmen.”
“I don’t think I was fair to a lot of people, particularly the speech where I said that the military are the unknown gunmen, the police are the unknown gunmen, the immigration, the customs,” Otse said. “I know exactly what I was trying to say because I have evidence to back up my claim, but I wasn’t fair to a lot of people in that speech.”
He said his intention had been to highlight alleged corruption and sabotage by some personnel within the agencies, not to condemn all officers. Otse specifically expressed regret for the impact on soldiers fighting Boko Haram and other threats in remote areas.
“That speech was not fair, especially to the soldiers that are in the bushes fighting Boko Haram to protect our lands, to protect our lives, and to protect our families. I don’t think it’s fair to say they are also the unknown gunmen, to be very honest, because these people have laid down their lives,” he said.
Otse apologised directly to the Chief of Defence Staff and the leadership of the security agencies, asking that the message be extended to personnel in the field. He also apologised to the families of fallen officers.
“To the families of these heroes that might have also felt offended by this speech, knowing fully well that their brother, their sister, their son, their husband fought and died for this country, I am really, really sorry,” he said.
The activist maintained that there remain “a lot of bad eggs” within the security services, including corrupt senior and junior officers, but insisted that many more personnel are dedicated. He warned those allegedly involved in sabotage, arms supply or leaking information to criminals that their days were numbered, while urging genuine officers not to be discouraged.
The apology follows controversy generated by Otse’s appearance at the NBA conference, held from 21 to 28 August 2026 in Port Harcourt. Senior Advocate of Nigeria Femi Falana had criticised the decision to invite him as a panellist for specialised discussions. Otse had defended his invitation, saying he was there to share personal experiences of insecurity rather than to lecture lawyers on the law. He later mocked critics by appearing in a lawyer’s wig and gown in a video.
During the conference, Otse also alleged that some police officers at checkpoints identify wealthy travellers and pass information to kidnappers. The Nigeria Police Force rejected the claim as unsubstantiated and invited him to provide evidence. Otse responded that he would only present evidence in court if charged.
The remarks and subsequent apology come against a backdrop of persistent insecurity that has exacted a heavy toll on both civilians and security personnel. According to operational figures released by the Office of the National Security Adviser covering July and August 2026, security forces killed 1,614 terrorists and other criminal elements, arrested 1,688 suspects and rescued 1,160 kidnapped victims. The Armed Forces alone conducted 7,062 operations, neutralising 1,487 terrorists and rescuing 777 victims. During the same period, 93 security personnel and 249 civilians were recorded as casualties.
Broader data from security trackers show that more than 1,500 security personnel have been killed since mid-2023 across operations against Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province, bandits and other groups. Senior officers have also been lost in ambushes and base attacks, particularly in Borno State, the epicentre of the north-east insurgency.
Otse’s comments and apology highlight the tension between public criticism of alleged misconduct within the security services and recognition of the risks faced by personnel engaged in counter-insurgency and anti-banditry operations. He concluded by urging support for those genuinely protecting the country.
“Keep on fighting for our beloved country, God bless all of you. We Nigerians are with you,” he said.