Social media commentator Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has broken his silence on the reported attack on the convoy of Peter Obi, former Anambra State governor and 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), during a visit to Benue State. In a statement shared on his platform, VDM expressed deep disappointment over the incident, particularly focusing on the number of youths who allegedly gathered during the episode.
VDM argued that young people in Benue were being exploited as instruments of political interest, pointing to a troubling contradiction: residents who had previously protested against insecurity and killings in the state were now, in his view, showing up in force for a political event. He recalled that security forces had previously used tear gas to disperse protesters during anti-insecurity demonstrations in the state.
VDM's Disappointment with Benue Youths
"I was really, really disappointed in Benue State youths. Not all of them, that crowd that came out. It was heartbreaking," VDM said. He contrasted the large turnout during the attack on Obi's convoy with the earlier protests over insecurity, noting: "But now we now come out in numbers. Nobody tear-gassed you. They don't use una now for their own bidding. It is quite unfortunate and very, very sad."
The commentator emphasised that Benue residents had for years endured attacks on farmers, kidnappings, and the destruction of livelihoods, and that politicians had largely ignored these problems except when elections drew near. He warned that the conduct of some youths could damage public sympathy for Benue's insecurity victims going forward.
Concern for Benue's Future
VDM expressed hope that the state would not have to relive the "Benue is bleeding" narrative, saying: "I just hope that we will not have any reason to write 'Benue is bleeding', because then you will have a lot of Nigerians to say, 'Ah, ah, Benue is bleeding now. Where were you when I came and I can't do politics?'"
He revealed that he had been personally working on a project aimed at addressing farmer-herder clashes in the state, describing Benue as a place he genuinely cared about. "I wake up in the night to work on a project I'm working on, on how to help, to look for a way to stop the farmers and herders' clash in Benue," VDM said.
Clarification on Political Stance
The commentator was careful to clarify that his remarks should not be read as support for Obi or any other political figure. "That being said, me, nothing concern me with Peter Obi's campaign. I'm not supporting anybody. I don't support Atiku. I'm not endorsing any of them," VDM said.
He closed by urging Benue youths to prioritise the wellbeing of their communities over political mobilisation, saying politicians had repeatedly failed to serve the people they now sought to rally. "It is quite unfortunate. It is quite unfortunate. But this is what it is," he added.
In a related development, Seyi Makinde, the presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), condemned the blocking of Peter Obi's convoy during a campaign visit to Benue State on Tuesday, September 8, 2026. Obi was in Benue to campaign ahead of the 2027 general elections and to visit Yelwata, where he planned to meet families affected by the June 2025 attacks in the area.
