Arewa youths have given social media commentator Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), a 48-hour ultimatum to apologise over a video he made reacting to a recent comment by the Sultan of Sokoto, Abubakar Sa’ad.
The Sultan had described social media as a “terrorist organisation” during a public event, expressing concerns over how misinformation spreads unchecked on the platforms.
“Social media acts like a terrorist group. People sit comfortably in their homes, create stories, and spread them—even when they’re completely false,” he said in a viral video.
Reacting to the monarch’s statement on Thursday, VDM posted a video where he respectfully disagreed with the Sultan’s views.
“With all due respect to the Sultan of Sokoto, it is quite disheartening for people like me to hear social media described as a terrorist organisation,” he said.
“As a respected royal figure and father to the nation, I believe more research should be done before making such strong claims. That said, since I now know you engage with social media, I have a message I hope you will help relay to those in power. Thank you, sir.”
Following the video, the president of Northern Nigeria Youths demanded a retraction and public apology from VDM, accusing him of disrespecting the Sultan.
Other northern groups, including Islamic and traditional organisations, have also thrown their weight behind the monarch, calling any form of criticism against him an insult to the Muslim Ummah.
The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has similarly vowed to defend the Sultan from what it described as disrespectful commentary.
