The Nigeria Police Force on Thursday detained popular social media influencer Martins Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), after he responded to an official police invitation. While the specific charges were undisclosed as of this report, VDM’s lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, confirmed that his client had been held following the appearance.

In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Adeyanju revealed that this was the second consecutive day VDM had honored a police invitation. He added, “Our client, VDM, has been detained after honouring a police invitation just like yesterday. VDM has been consistent in stating that the Nigerian Police are our friends, even when we all know they are not.”

Earlier this week, SaharaReporters highlighted that VDM had issued a public apology to the Nigeria Police Force after he appeared in a viral video wearing a costume resembling a police uniform, presenting himself as a “CSP of an online division.” VDM clarified on X that he was unaware of regulations requiring permission for the use of police uniforms and apologized for any unintentional offense.

“Back from the police station where I was interrogated based on the post I made wearing a costume that the police claim is similar to theirs, l didn’t intend to impersonate the police in any way and I tender my unreserved apologies to the Nigeria police force and the office of the…,” VDM wrote in a post accompanying a video on October 30, 2024.

The incident has prompted VDM to advise other content creators to seek proper authorization from law enforcement before using police attire or similar gear in their productions. His apology followed statements from the Nigeria Police Force condemning unauthorized usage of official police uniforms, badges, and other items by content creators, noting that it constitutes a criminal offense.

The police also reiterated their concerns regarding this issue last year, pointing to similar instances involving individuals, filmmakers, and skit makers. In a statement, the Force announced it would investigate the origins of the police gear used in VDM’s video and his authorization for its use, further distancing itself from the portrayal.

The incident highlights the ongoing challenges between Nigerian law enforcement and social media influencers as they navigate the boundaries between creative expression and legal compliance.