A Coalition of Civil Society Groups for Peace, Security, Good Governance, Equity, and Justice has petitioned the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 2, AIG Jimoh Moshood, demanding the immediate arrest, investigation, and prosecution of social media activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), over alleged cyber-stalking, criminal defamation, and incitement.
In a petition dated July 21, 2026, and signed by the National Coordinator and Convener of the coalition, Comrade James Okoronkwo, the group alleged that VDM had used his social media platforms to launch what it described as “continuous, malicious, and coordinated cyber-attacks” against the senior police officer.
According to the coalition, the social media influencer allegedly disseminated fabricated and defamatory content intended to undermine the integrity of AIG Moshood and the statutory authority of his office.
The coalition argued that the alleged actions go beyond online criticism and amount to offences under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, including cyber-stalking, criminal defamation, and conduct capable of causing a breach of public peace.
The group stated that it had already undertaken media campaigns to counter what it described as false narratives against the police chief but maintained that public rebuttals alone were insufficient to address the situation.
The coalition therefore called on the Nigeria Police Force to take decisive legal action by immediately arresting Martins Otse, conducting a comprehensive forensic investigation into his digital activities, identifying any alleged collaborators or sponsors, and prosecuting him before a court of competent jurisdiction.
It further maintained that protecting the integrity of senior officers of the Nigeria Police Force is essential to safeguarding national security and preserving public confidence in law enforcement institutions.
The coalition also pledged its continued support through media advocacy and civil society engagement as the matter progresses.
As of the time of filing this report, Martins Otse (VDM) had not publicly responded to the allegations contained in the petition, and there has been no official statement from the Nigeria Police Force regarding the coalition’s demands.
