Sowore calls for release of social media critic VeryDarkman

The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 elections, Omoyele Sowore has called out the Nigeria Police Force for using its powers to bully and suppress the free speech of ordinary citizens.

Sowore accused the police of inappropriate conduct after they arrested and detained social media critic Martins Vincent Otse who is popularly known as also known @Verydarkblackman. Social media influencer Chizorom Ofoegbu also known as @IjeleSpeaks2 was reported to be in the custody of the police. Both men have been accused under the cover of the Cybercrime Act.

VeryDarkman was seen in a cell in Abuja days ago for allegedly bullying actress Tonto Dikeh and socialite Bobrisky. The social media critic accused Dikeh of being the face behind the controversial blog, Gistlover. At the same time, he questioned why Bobrisky whom he accused of being gay is walking freely in light of the country's stance on LGBTQ+.

Sowore who has been caught up in a web with authorities in the last decade wrote in a post on his X and Instagram page.

"This evening I learned that the @nigeriapoliceforce, under a very despicable way, got Martins Vincent OTSE, also known as @verydarkblackman, detained wickedly hiding under cover of the Cybercrime Act because he said things some senior police officers weren’t comfortable with, so also was another social media influencer Chizorom Ofoegbu also known as @IjeleSpeaks2 arrested by the police and sent to prison in Keffi under questionable and inappropriate magisterial misconduct in Abuja the @policeng colluded with a Pastor violating his fundamental rights, therefore jeopardizing his liberty," he said.

"The @nigeriapoliceforce continues to misuse its powers to suppress free speech by colluding with pastors, GOs, entertainers, politicians, and the highly connected. I condemn this high-handed, reckless, inhuman, unjust and illegal police conduct and urge the @nigeriapoliceforce authorities to release @verydarkblackman and @IjeleSpeaks2 with immediate effect"

"The @nigeriapoliceforce must continually be reminded that this is how it rode itself into #EndSARS, a mass action that nearly consumed the Nigerian Police Force. No one has a right to suppress free speech under the guise of illegality."

"Free all those detained under the criminally engineered “Cybercrime Act” NOW!"