Veteran Nigerian singer and activist Eedris Abdulkareem has taken a bold public stance in support of detained social media critic Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), during a recent live performance.
In a viral video, Eedris paused mid-performance to address the activist’s arrest, asking the audience to raise their phone flashlights and chant “Free VDM” in unison—a call that was met with resounding support from the crowd.
The powerful moment highlighted not just his support for VDM, but also his continued role as a vocal critic of government oppression and censorship.
The outspoken artist, known for his activism since the early 2000s, blasted the government for cracking down on free speech, pointing to the skyrocketing prices of essential goods like rice and internet data as more pressing national issues than censoring voices of dissent.
“Nigerians are not asking for too much,” Eedris said, urging the authorities to focus on meaningful governance instead of silencing critics.
Eedris’ gesture also underscores his ongoing camaraderie with VDM, who had recently defended the artist when his diss track criticizing national leadership was banned from radio and TV. VDM had not only condemned the ban but also offered to fund a remix and appear in the music video, calling out the government for wasting time on censorship.
The incident has further fueled nationwide debates on freedom of expression, with many calling for accountability and justice amid the country’s growing economic and social unrest.
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