Democracy Day and a Nation Under Pressure
Nigeria's 2026 Democracy Day celebration was meant to highlight 27 years of uninterrupted civilian rule and the country's democratic progress. However, for many Nigerians, the festivities were overshadowed by growing concerns about insecurity, kidnappings, terrorism, and the continued abduction of schoolchildren and teachers across various parts of the country.
During his nationwide Democracy Day address, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu issued one of his strongest warnings yet to terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, and their sponsors, declaring that they must surrender or face the full force of the Nigerian State. The President also emphasized that the government's window for surrender and rehabilitation would not remain open indefinitely.
While supporters of the administration praised the speech as a show of resolve, critics argued that Nigerians have heard similar promises for years, even as insecurity continues to affect communities nationwide.
One of the loudest voices challenging the President's position was social media activist VeryDarkMan (VDM).
VDM Questions Tinubu's Security Strategy
Reacting through a video shared on Instagram, VDM expressed deep frustration with what he described as a repetitive approach to a problem that continues to claim lives.
According to him, asking terrorists and bandits to surrender has become a familiar government message, yet attacks, kidnappings, and killings continue to occur.
The activist argued that if previous warnings had failed to stop criminal groups, Nigerians deserved to hear a more concrete security plan rather than another ultimatum.
The Oyo Kidnapping Crisis Remains Fresh
VDM's criticism did not emerge in isolation.
For weeks, he has been heavily involved in public discussions surrounding the abduction of teachers and students in Oyo State. The activist previously issued a four-day ultimatum to authorities, threatened crowdfunding efforts to negotiate for victims' release, called for nationwide school boycotts, and even led supporters to the Nigerian Air Force headquarters demanding stronger military action against bandits.
To VDM, the continued captivity of innocent Nigerians serves as evidence that current strategies are not delivering the desired results.
His remarks reflect a growing frustration among many citizens who feel insecurity remains one of Nigeria's biggest challenges despite repeated government assurances.
Campaign Promises vs. Current Reality
The activist also referenced statements made by Tinubu during the 2022 election campaign.
During the campaign period, Tinubu repeatedly promised to tackle insecurity and restore stability across affected regions if elected president. Since assuming office in 2023, the administration has consistently highlighted military operations, the neutralization of terrorist fighters, and efforts to secure the release of kidnapped victims.
In his Democracy Day speech, the President stated that over 13,000 terrorists had been neutralized in the past year and emphasized that security agencies would continue offensive operations against criminal groups.
However, VDM questioned whether these reported gains are translating into safety for ordinary Nigerians who continue to experience kidnappings, attacks on schools, and violent assaults on rural communities.
The Chibok Comparison
Perhaps the most emotional part of VDM's criticism came when he referenced the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls abduction.
More than a decade later, the Chibok tragedy remains one of Nigeria's most painful security failures and continues to symbolize the devastating consequences of unchecked insecurity.
According to VDM, the persistence of kidnappings involving schoolchildren suggests that Nigeria has not fully learned from past mistakes.
He argues that successive governments have continued to make promises while communities remain vulnerable to attacks.
A Growing Anti-Government Campaign
This latest criticism forms part of a broader campaign VDM has launched against the current administration.
In recent weeks, he has:
• Criticized presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga over allegations involving AI-generated content.
• Called for increased voter registration ahead of the 2027 elections.
• Encouraged Nigerians to obtain their PVCs.
• Argued that elected officials should be removed through democratic means if they fail to deliver.
• Repeatedly accused government officials of prioritizing political battles over public safety.
His latest comments further position him as one of the administration's most vocal online critics.
Mixed Reactions Online
The video has generated intense debate across social media.
Supporters of VDM argue that he is voicing frustrations shared by millions of Nigerians who feel exhausted by years of insecurity and repeated government assurances.
Others believe the activist oversimplifies an extremely complex security challenge involving terrorism, banditry, organized crime, and regional instability.
Supporters of the government point to ongoing military operations, the surrender of former fighters, and official claims of reduced terror-related deaths as evidence that progress is being made.
Critics, however, maintain that citizens judge security by what they experience in their communities rather than by official statistics.