Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Nigerian Bar Association has presented a recognition award to social media influencer Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, during its ongoing 2026 Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The award was presented to Otse on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, after he participated as a panellist at the conference, where he shared his experiences on insecurity and other challenges affecting the country. Presenting the award, the moderator, on behalf of the NBA president and members, said the association appreciated Otse for being present at the conference and sharing his experiences with the participants. The moderator added, "On behalf of the president and members of the Nigeria Association, I present this award to be here with us and share your own experience. But please, when you are attacked, don't kill. Report to the police".
The social media activist had earlier clarified the reason for his invitation to the conference, saying he was not invited to lecture lawyers on legal matters but to share his experiences. "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. Speaking during the session, Otse expressed concern over insecurity in the country and criticised what he described as inadequate media coverage of killings. "This is not a topic of 'may I, my lord' because your lords are being kidnapped," he stated, while recalling the reported abduction of a judge travelling from Sokoto State who, according to him, was kidnapped in Kebbi State on July 26 and released about a week later.
He also criticised media organisations for what he described as insufficient coverage of attacks and killings linked to insecurity. "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. Speaking about the June 13, 2025, attack on Yelwata in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, which was reported to have killed more than 200 people and destroyed property worth millions of naira, Otse said he had personally witnessed the aftermath of violent attacks. "I was the first respondent at Yelwata. I was also the first respondent when some women were killed some time ago. I've seen blood and seen people burnt alive," he said.
Otse's appearance at the NBA conference has attracted significant public attention, with the influencer previously explaining that his invitation was based on his experiences and advocacy on insecurity rather than legal expertise. The activist alleged that politics was at the root of insecurity in Nigeria and claimed that government institutions benefited from the security crisis. During his address, he maintained that his invitation to the NBA conference gave him an opportunity to bring experiences from outside the courtroom into a discussion about insecurity, rather than attempting to lecture lawyers on legal matters. The conference, which is being held from August 21 to 28, has drawn lawyers and other prominent figures for discussions on Nigeria's legal system and broader national issues. Otse's recognition by the NBA has sparked mixed reactions, with some applauding the association for acknowledging his advocacy work, while others have questioned the decision to honour a social media influencer at a legal conference.
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