In a stunning revelation, popular online activist Verydarkman has detailed a secret, high-stakes meeting he had with the former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa. This encounter occurred months before President Bola Tinubu nominated General Musa as the Minister of Defence.
From Public Criticism to a Private Summons
The chain of events began with a tragic incident in Benue State. On June 14, 2025, suspected herdsmen attacked the community of Yelwata, leaving many people dead. Moved by the reports, Verydarkman travelled to Yelwata the very next day, June 15, to document the aftermath firsthand.
He captured graphic scenes of the violence, and his footage quickly went viral across social media platforms. The widespread outrage forced authorities to address the situation publicly. However, when General Musa, then the CDS, appeared on national television to comment on the massacre, his statements deeply dissatisfied the activist.
VDM did not hold back, launching sharp criticism against the military leader online for what he deemed an unsatisfactory response to the killings. Just two days after his public rebuke, the activist received a message that the Nigerian Army was looking for him.
The Unexpected Meeting at the Asokoro Base
Verydarkman was escorted to a military base in the highbrow Asokoro district of Abuja. He anticipated a tense interrogation or reprimand for his outspoken comments. What transpired was completely different.
"When the door opened, I saw Christopher Musa—the same man I had blasted online," the activist recounted. According to VDM, the General immediately asked everyone else in the room to leave, creating a private space for their conversation.
General Musa then looked the activist in the eye and uttered words that took him by surprise: "I need your help." The former defence chief asked Verydarkman to provide a detailed account of everything he witnessed in Yelwata and to share any intelligence or insights he had gathered from locals and his sources close to the long-running conflict.
A Quest for Ground Truth
The activist revealed that he had already been communicating with individuals who understood the complex tensions involving Fulani groups and had collected numerous videos and testimonies. He described General Musa as a leader genuinely interested in uncovering the truth, willing to listen to credible voices beyond official channels.
"For a Chief of Defence Staff to call Verydarkman to his house and say 'I need your help,' it shows he was genuinely looking for solutions. There was no pride," VDM stated, reflecting on the humility displayed by the senior military officer.
This revelation paints a picture of a security chief actively seeking alternative perspectives to tackle one of Nigeria's most persistent security challenges. The meeting underscores the sometimes-unseen efforts by officials to gather actionable intelligence from diverse sources, even from vocal critics.
The story emerges as General Christopher Musa awaits confirmation as the nation's Minister of Defence, offering a rare glimpse into his approach to conflict resolution and intelligence gathering prior to his nomination.
