Social commentator Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan, has expressed regret over remarks he made about Nigeria’s security agencies during the Nigerian Bar Association’s 66th Annual General Conference.
In a video released on Friday, September 4, the activist said he had reconsidered his comments after referring to military, police, customs and immigration personnel as “unknown gunmen” while speaking on insecurity.
VeryDarkMan explained that his criticism was aimed at alleged misconduct, sabotage and the leaking of sensitive information by some individuals within the security system, not at every officer serving in the country.
He admitted, however, that his statement was too broad and could be interpreted as dismissing the sacrifices of security personnel, particularly soldiers serving in conflict-affected areas.
According to him, those fighting Boko Haram and other threats continue to risk their lives to protect Nigerians, making it unfair to place them in the same category as the criminals they are battling.
He subsequently appealed to the Chief of Defence Staff and other security authorities to convey his apology to personnel serving in dangerous conditions. He also extended his regret to the families of officers who had lost their lives in the line of duty, acknowledging that his remarks could have caused them pain.