Popular social media critic Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan, has been released from detention after spending nine days in police custody.
His release, which occurred late Sunday, follows widespread concern and outcry among his followers and fellow activists, igniting debates about freedom of speech and online expression in Nigeria.
VeryDarkMan's detention prompted questions about the boundaries of free speech in the digital age, especially regarding the rights of individuals to express dissenting views online without fear of reprisal.
While the police cited multiple petitions against VeryDarkMan's online activities as the reason for his arrest, specific details regarding the allegations remain undisclosed.
Omoyele Sowore, the convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, confirmed VeryDarkMan's release in a post shared via social media on Sunday.
However, reactions from Nigerians have been mixed. Some expressed relief at his release, viewing it as a victory for freedom of expression, while others cautioned him to be more careful with his activism.
Comments ranged from "Let this be a lesson to him" to "Shame to oppressors" and "I hope he learns his lesson."
Despite his release, concerns linger about the broader implications of VeryDarkMan's detention on freedom of speech in Nigeria and the need for transparency in cases involving online expression.
