A major public feud has erupted between Nigerian activist Harrison Gwamnishu and social media critic Martins Vincent Otse, known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), over serious allegations linked to a kidnapping case in Edo State.
Private Chats Leaked in Public Challenge
On January 13, 2026, Harrison Gwamnishu took to his Instagram page to publicly challenge VDM. He posted screenshots of their private Instagram conversation, accusing the critic of emotional blackmail and irresponsible behaviour in a sensitive matter involving a kidnapping victim's family.
The leaked messages showed a cryptic warning from VeryDarkMan. "Truth doesn't expire.....lies does.....The worst thing that can happen to a man is believing his own lies.....Good luck on your next adventure," VDM's message read, hinting that Gwamnishu's alleged deceptions would be exposed.
Gwamnishu's Firm Denial and Counter-Demand
In his forceful response, Gwamnishu insisted that if VDM possessed any proof of wrongdoing, he should present it openly instead of issuing veiled threats. The activist stressed that the ongoing public drama was endangering lives, including that of a man still in detention. He urged VDM to seek legal counsel before making accusations that could mislead the Nigerian public.
Gwamnishu addressed a previous apology he had offered to VDM, clarifying it was a gesture of peace, not an admission of guilt. He stated the apology was intended to protect the victims involved, but he now regretted that VDM had interpreted it as a sign of weakness.
The activist accused VDM of escalating the situation by publishing a voice note involving a family friend and the victim's wife, and then promoting the family's properties online to煽动 public anger against him.
The Core of the Allegations and Public Reaction
The dispute stems from a late-2025 kidnapping case in Edo State. VeryDarkMan had accused Gwamnishu of collecting a N20 million ransom but failing to account for N5.4 million of it. Following these allegations, Gwamnishu was arrested and later granted bail. He maintained that his initial silence was to protect those involved, but VDM rejected this explanation, issuing a two-hour ultimatum for a confession.
In his latest statement, Gwamnishu categorically denied the claims and demanded concrete evidence. "I want you to publicly post evidence linking me to kidnapping, as you have accused me in your videos... Till date, I am still waiting," he challenged. He also condemned VDM for allegedly mocking the efforts of military personnel involved in rescue operations, warning that such actions trivialise serious life-saving work.
The online court of public opinion, however, largely sided against Gwamnishu. Social media users flooded the comment sections with past accusations to question his credibility:
- @obynodaddymuna referenced a past allegation: "You have been an individual of questionable character from the time you lied about having Kidney failure."
- @danemike_ listed a series of issues: "From the Garri incident, your link to Chinmark, the car you recovered and stole, the debts here and there, the fake kidney story, to the ₦5.4m issue."
- @yoyotoobig147 questioned: "You don't want the man's life to be endangered but you took 5.4m from the money and you still denied it."
This controversy emerges against a backdrop where Gwamnishu himself had previously lamented that kidnapping has become a lucrative business in Nigeria. He had called for better-trained security teams, modern technology, and collaboration among various sectors to tackle the menace. The current backlash had previously led him to lock his Instagram comment section.
The standoff remains unresolved, with Gwamnishu's public dare for evidence hanging in the balance and the court of social media continuing its intense scrutiny of both figures.
