In a blistering video that’s gone viral amid national grief, controversial activist VeryDarkMan (VDM), real name Martins Vincent Otse, has unleashed a scathing critique of Nigerians, bloggers, and government authorities for their alleged hypocrisy in responding to the death of reality star Phyna’s sister, Ruth Otabor. The 31-year-old self-styled social crusader, known for his no-holds-barred exposés on corruption and injustice, accused the public of ignoring urgent pleas for help during Ruth’s hospitalization only to flood social media with posts, likes, and analyses after her passing on August 31. “Now everyone is posting… let’s make it go viral now, let’s raise the awareness now, let it trend more now, more engagements, more likes, more views, more analysis,” VDM lamented sarcastically in the emotional Instagram clip, highlighting what he sees as performative activism in Nigeria’s digital age.
The outburst comes just hours after Phyna, the BBNaija Season 7 winner whose real name is Ijeoma Josephina Otabor, confirmed her 21-year-old sister’s death through family lawyers Eko Solicitors & Advocates. Ruth, a recent graduate and mother of two, succumbed to injuries from a horrific August 13 accident in Auchi, Edo State, where a Dangote Cement truck crushed her leg, leading to amputation and life-threatening complications affecting her chest, pelvis, lungs, and reproductive organs. Despite transfers to facilities like Lagoon Hospital in Lagos and promises of airlifting her to India for advanced treatment, delays proved fatal. VDM, who initially amplified Phyna’s call for justice by pressuring Dangote Group for accountability, turned his ire on the broader system, slamming the conglomerate for employing an allegedly unlicensed driver and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) for inadequate oversight.
VDM didn’t spare the government either, dragging the Federal Government (FG) for systemic failures that allow such tragedies to recur. “The use of unlicensed drivers by such a powerful company, and the absence of accountability from authorities, reflect a broader national failure,” he fumed, questioning why Ruth wasn’t swiftly evacuated abroad instead of enduring prolonged suffering. He echoed Phyna’s earlier accusations of betrayal, revealing private details she shared with him were twisted into public drama, but shifted focus to collective inaction: “I have been using my platform since Day 1… but despite all efforts, she passed away.” The activist, whose past clashes with Phyna over compensation demands (allegedly ₦1 billion) and leaked chats have drawn criticism, positioned himself as a lone voice in the wilderness, warning that “the elite institutions had failed the Nigerian people.”
Social media exploded with mixed reactions to VDM’s rant, trending under #VDMCallsOutHypocrisy and #JusticeForRuth. Supporters praised his consistency, with one X user tweeting, “VDM is right – we all ignored until it was too late. Shame on us and the govt!” Critics, however, accused him of opportunism, linking it to his history of arrests for cyberbullying, defamation, and even wearing a police uniform in content – the latter leading to his October 2024 detention. Phyna’s fallout with VDM, where she branded him a “manipulator” for allegedly recording calls without consent and distracting from Ruth’s care, added fuel, but her fans (Phynation) urged unity: “This isn’t the time for blame – focus on Dangote and reforms.”
Dangote Group responded with a statement expressing “deep sadness” and claiming they covered all costs, including finalized India travel plans, but critics like content creator Izzy Ogbeide called for a class-action lawsuit, citing unreported similar incidents. The FRSC mourned Ruth and pledged enhanced training for truck operators, while celebrities like Mercy Eke and Bobrisky weighed in on accountability. VDM’s activism, which began in 2022 and earned him endorsements from figures like Davido, has long polarized – from EndSARS echoes to recent NGO fund scandals – but this latest drag underscores his role in Nigeria’s fraught fight for justice.
As protests loom and legal probes intensify, VDM’s words serve as a grim reminder: In a nation where over 5,000 die annually from road accidents (FRSC data), hypocrisy kills faster than trucks. Will this spark real change, or just more posts?