By Abigail Philip David
Controversial social media activist Martin Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has confessed to fabricating a claim about ₦180 million allegedly disappearing from his NGO’s account. He described the stunt as a social experiment to expose how quickly Nigerians believe and spread unverified information online.
In a video posted on Instagram, VeryDarkMan explained the backlash he faced and the reasoning behind his actions.
“Since I said ₦180 million went missing from the NGO account, I’ve seen comments I never expected,” he said. “But everything I do on social media reflects who I am. I’m not seeking public validation.”
The activist, known for advocating against scams and fraud, expressed dismay over the insults he received. He described how people vilified him without questioning the story’s credibility.
“All I do on social media is advocate, help people recover their money, and create awareness to prevent scams,” he said. “Sometimes, I even use my own money or borrow to support these efforts. Yet people insulted my family and called me a thief.”
VeryDarkMan criticised the tendency of social media users to accept and spread information without scrutiny.
“Eighty percent of people on social media are stupid. This experiment proves it,” he declared. “No one questioned the story. Why would I go to Jos if ₦180 million was missing, instead of reporting to authorities in Abuja? But people just shared the news without thinking.”
He also linked the incident to a broader culture of misinformation, referencing other unverified claims that spread online.
“The media is ruined. Someone from Niger recently claimed France gave Tinubu money to open a military base in the North East. No one asked for proof, yet the story spread like wildfire,” he said.
While some viewers supported his call for digital literacy and critical thinking, others criticised his method as manipulative and deceptive.
The revelation has sparked a heated debate about the ethics of using such tactics to highlight misinformation.
