The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been accused of denying food to Martins Vincent Otse, a Nigerian social media activist known by his social media nickname VeryDarkMan (VDM), by his friends and family.
In a video clip uploaded to the internet by VDM’s close friend, Koko Pee, attempts to take food to the detained activist were thwarted by EFCC officials. They were informed, Koko Pee said, that the commission would ensure VDM’s meals personally. Later, he continued, a standing order was issued against anyone going near or offering food to VDM until Monday.
VDM’s brother, Mark, corroborated these claims, attributing the frustrations of being held back from his brother. He underscored they were told that nobody was to visit or feed VDM, yet the commission notified them he would be fed on detention.
The activist’s lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, alleged that VDM was arrested by EFCC agents on Friday. The arrest has sparked outrage on the internet and raised questions about the involvement of a particular bank in what critics have described as a targeted crackdown.
This is the most recent of a long line of events raising questions about how Nigerian security agencies are handling detainees. Human rights groups in 2023 complained of detentions said to be lacking in basic comforts, which increased calls for reforms in detention processes.
EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale was unavailable for comment at the time of this report, and attempts to reach the commission via official avenues were unsuccessful.
The current situation has reignited debates over detainee rights and law enforcement agencies’ role in providing humane treatment of suspects in custody.
