When Martins Otse, better known by his online name VeryDarkMan (VDM), stormed an Auchi highway to block a Dangote truck earlier this August, few could have predicted the drama that would unfold in the days ahead. Within a single week, the fiery social commentator went from protesting Dangote truck accidents and corporate negligence to chasing down suspected highway kidnappers in Edo State. These acts have now positioned him as one of Nigeria’s most disruptive and controversial voices of activism.

In a country plagued by weak institutions, worsening insecurity, and unchecked corporate power, the twin episodes symbolised both the desperation and resilience of ordinary Nigerians. PulseNets learnt that these incidents have not only reshaped national conversations around justice and accountability but have also cemented VDM as an unlikely champion of citizen activism.

The Trucks That Shook Auchi

The first confrontation played out in mid-August on the busy Auchi road in Edo State. VDM, visibly enraged, confronted a Dangote truck in protest over the tragic plight of a 22-year-old woman who had been struck by one of the company’s lorries. She had reportedly spent nearly a year at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital with medical bills soaring beyond ₦5 million. Family members told PulseNets that Dangote Group had offered little or no assistance.

This was not an isolated case. On August 13, Ruth, the sister of Big Brother Naija winner Phyna, was also hit by a Dangote truck in Edo, losing her leg in the crash. Relatives later spoke to PulseNets, accusing the company of indifference and abandonment despite the life-altering injury.

Fueled by anger over these tragedies, VDM staged a dramatic protest in Auchi, blocking a Dangote vehicle and vowing to halt its operations until victims were compensated. Viral videos showed him standing defiantly before the truck, gesturing and shouting, his voice carrying the frustrations of thousands of Nigerians who have long accused Dangote trucks of reckless driving and systemic disregard for safety.

The spectacle drew widespread debate online. “Dangote’s wealth has been built partly on the blood of road users,” one commentator posted. Others criticised VDM’s tactics as reckless grandstanding.

Authorities could not ignore the uproar. Within days, the Edo State Government announced it would cover the medical expenses of the victims. Yet many Nigerians told PulseNets they were unsettled that taxpayers had to foot bills they believe should have been paid by the multibillion-naira corporation.

The confrontation reawakened old questions: Why do Dangote truck accidents occur so frequently? Why do victims report being abandoned? PulseNets learnt from past investigations that poorly trained drivers, lack of accountability mechanisms, and weak regulatory enforcement have left victims and their families with little hope for justice.

Kidnappers on the Highway

Even as public outrage over the Dangote saga simmered, VDM found himself embroiled in another crisis, this time involving suspected kidnappers. On a highway in Edo State, armed men reportedly shot a man and attempted to flee with hostages.

Eyewitnesses told PulseNets that VDM, who was nearby, pursued the criminals in his vehicle. His intervention disrupted the attackers, enabling bystanders to rescue the wounded victim. Clips shared online captured him urging locals to intervene while rushing to aid the injured man.

Just days earlier, he had been standing before a truck protesting corporate negligence. Now, he was chasing down gunmen. Supporters praised him as courageous, while critics warned that such actions could set dangerous precedents.

Security experts also raised concerns. “A civilian pursuing armed kidnappers is an invitation to tragedy,” a retired police officer told PulseNets. “But the fact that people like VDM feel compelled to act shows just how little faith Nigerians have in state protection.”

The episode highlighted a grim truth: kidnapping in Nigeria has become a booming criminal enterprise. From Zamfara to Kaduna and Edo, highway abductions remain rampant. PulseNets learnt from SBM Intelligence that at least 3,600 people were kidnapped across Nigeria in 2024, with ransom demands running into billions of naira.

Connecting the Struggles

Though one incident involved a corporation and the other armed criminals, both stories are bound by a common thread: institutional failure.

In the Dangote truck accident saga, victims were left to their fate until a social critic forced attention. In the kidnapping case, the failure of Nigeria’s security architecture allowed civilians to face dangers that should have been handled by the state.

Both events gained national traction because of one tool: social media. VDM’s live videos turned local tragedies into national conversations within hours. PulseNets reported that his clips spread so quickly that government officials, journalists, and citizens were compelled to react.

Implications for Nigeria

The two incidents expose troubling realities about Nigeria’s governance.

On corporate accountability: The Dangote truck controversy shows how powerful companies often evade responsibility. Until regulators enforce strict liability, tragedies will persist. Activists insist corporations must create dedicated victim compensation funds and transparent redress systems.

On security: The Edo kidnapping drama underscored Nigeria’s fragile public safety. Highways remain vulnerable, police are underfunded, and communities resort to vigilante-style interventions. Analysts told PulseNets that without reforms in policing, intelligence gathering, and rapid response, kidnapping will only escalate.

On activism: Figures like VDM highlight the power of citizen voices in shaping national debates. Yet, critics question where the line lies between activism and vigilantism.

The Rise of a New Image

For years, VDM was seen as a fiery, sometimes abrasive online critic. But PulseNets learnt that the August episodes transformed his image dramatically. In two striking moments, he confronted both corporate negligence and violent criminals.

His detractors accuse him of chasing clout and sowing chaos. His supporters argue he is filling a void left by a failing state. Whichever way one views it, VDM has become impossible to ignore.

Also Read: “I’ve learned a lesson” — VeryDarkMan apologizes to police for uniform controversy

Today, many Nigerians see him as the face of a new brand of activism, raw, confrontational, and deeply risky. His rise reflects not just anger at institutions, but also a hunger for figures willing to confront them openly.

The challenges remain unresolved. Victims of Dangote truck accidents still await long-term justice. Families of kidnap victims continue to live in fear. Government interventions often arrive too late, leaving citizens to improvise survival strategies.

Nigeria stands at a crossroads. Without urgent reforms in corporate accountability and public security, ordinary citizens may increasingly take justice into their own hands, with results that could inspire hope or end in tragedy.

For now, VDM embodies both the promise and peril of that reality. His defiance has delivered relief to some and sparked wider debates across the country. Yet his story also reveals a sobering truth: when institutions collapse, the line between activism and survival is razor-thin.