Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticized the arrest of popular social media activist VeryDarkMan (Martin Otse), saying the incident resembled a kidnapping more than a legal action.

VeryDarkMan was reportedly taken into custody on Friday shortly after visiting a GTBank branch in Abuja to file a complaint regarding unauthorized transactions on his mother’s account. His lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, later confirmed that he was being held by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

In a statement released on Sunday, Obi questioned the manner in which the arrest was carried out. He said, “Although the arrest may be within the law, the way it was executed has left many Nigerians deeply concerned.”

Obi described the forceful approach as one that lacked civility and transparency, warning that such methods could blur the line between lawful arrests and criminal abductions.

“If Nigerians cannot clearly differentiate between a legal arrest and an abduction, we risk weakening our national security and public trust,” Obi said.

He also pointed out that this is not the first time Nigerian authorities have acted this way, citing past instances where even judges were treated disrespectfully.

Obi warned that such actions have a negative impact on the country’s economy and international image, especially now that GTBank is facing public backlash due to its alleged involvement.

“Instead of this drama, couldn’t Mr. Otse have been invited in a calm and legal manner?” Obi asked. “We must protect our institutions, not drag them into unnecessary controversies.”