On the evening of June 19, 2025, activist and social commentator known as Verydarkman (VDM) received a surprising message: Nigerian Army wanted to see him. According to Verydarkman, the news came as a shock — “Army ke…” he recalled thinking. He panicked, baffled and wondering what “wahala” (trouble) he might be in. In his own words, “Which Wahala wey we get with Army? I can’t remember.”
He tried to piece together what could have provoked such a summons. VDM remembered only that he had publicly criticised Christopher Musa. But he couldn’t recall any major offence that would warrant military attention. Still, with no time to overthink, he agreed. He reasoned two things: if the Army truly intended to harm him, they would have already done so — they knew where he was and could track him. So he complied: “Whatever, no wahala. Let’s go.”
That decision would lead to a clandestine trip. He was driven to a military facility located in Asokoro, Abuja. There, at around 10:30–11:00 am, he was ushered inside. As the door swung open, his heart skipped — standing before him was Christopher Musa, the same man he had “blasted online.”
The two were led into a room, told to sit. Musa looked at him directly and addressed him: “Verydarkman.” He replied, “Sir.” The general continued, “Do you know why I brought you here?” VDM hesitated, said he did not. Then came the surprising request: “I need your help.”
VDM’s confusion was evident: “Help on what, sir?” he asked. The answer: Musa wanted him to recount everything he had witnessed when he visited Yelwata in Benue State. According to Musa, VDM was among the first, if not the first, to visit that volatile community with a camera. Many people had been too afraid to go, but VDM did. So, Musa needed a detailed report: what he saw, what he heard, what he thought — any information he had gathered during that trip.
Musa concluded the meeting by thanking him and asking that he share any further information that might help. Before leaving, they took a photograph together — the picture bore the date June 20, 2025, marking what VDM calls “the proof for those of you who are going to talk.”
Weeks later, when Musa’s name surfaced as the likely successor to the Ministry of Defence, VDM says he was neither surprised nor skeptical. Instead, he shook his head — not in disbelief, but in respect. This was a man who, despite the trappings of power, was humble enough to reach out to a civilian he had criticised — make eye contact, ask for help, and record the conversation without pride.
🔎 Context: From Yelwata Bloodshed to Musa’s Return
The encounter between Verydarkman and Christopher Musa did not happen in isolation. Earlier in June 2025, the Yelwata community in the Guma Local Government Area of Benue State suffered a brutal attack by suspected armed herders. At least 59 residents were killed, thousands were displaced. In response, Musa — then serving as Chief of Defence Staff — visited the community alongside the state governor and the Inspector General of Police, promising decisive military action.
Yet, even as the tragedy unfolded and Musa promised resolution, some civilians took it upon themselves to document the aftermath. Verydarkman was among them. His visit to Yelwata — armed only with a camera and determination — made him stand out. His footage and testimony reportedly captured details and atmospheres that official statements could never reflect.
It is precisely that footage and testimony that Musa referred to when he summoned VDM. The request for firsthand civilian insights suggests a leadership style that values grassroots information — and perhaps reveals a sensitivity to public sentiment and on-the-ground realities.
Fast-forward to December 2025: former Minister of Defence Mohammed Badaru Abubakar resigns on health grounds. Within days, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu nominates Christopher Musa — the recently retired Chief of Defence Staff — to take over the ministry. The Senate confirms Musa after a rigorous screening session, and he is sworn in.
In short: from CDS — dismissed in the October shake-up — to Defence Minister in December, Musa’s return marks a major pivot in Nigeria’s security architecture. The timing underscores the urgency the administration places on confronting soaring insecurity, kidnappings, and banditry.
Why This Story Matters
1. A Rare Civilian–Military Bridge
Rarely does a civilian critic get a face-to-face meeting with a top military figure. The fact that Musa sought out Verydarkman — not only reached out, but looked him in the eye and asked for help — suggests an openness rarely demonstrated in Nigeria’s security landscape. It highlights a willingness to engage directly with citizens, even critics, in pursuit of information.
2. Citizen Journalism Meets National Security
Verydarkman’s documentation of Yelwata’s aftermath and subsequent debrief with military leadership underscores the growing role of citizen journalism. In a country where many communities suffer in silence, grassroots voices — armed with cameras and courage — are becoming indispensable to truth and justice.
3. Musa’s Return Signals Continuity + Reform
The reappointment of Christopher Musa as Defence Minister signals a desire for continuity in expertise, but also perhaps a more inclusive, community-aware approach to Nigeria’s security challenges. Given his willingness to seek civilian inputs, one may hope for a more transparent, accountable security posture.
4. Trust—and Fear—on Both Sides
VDM’s initial fear — “Which wahala wey we get with Army?” — reflects broader public mistrust towards security agencies. Yet his willingness to go shows a cautious faith that there might be more at stake than fear. On the other side, the Army’s decision to reach out to a critic suggests a recognition that effective intelligence and public trust are two sides of the same coin.
The Human Factor Behind Headlines
Political appointments and security shake-ups often read like chess moves. But for many ordinary Nigerians — victims of violence, communities displaced, activists raising alarms — these moves have real human consequences. The story of Verydarkman and Christopher Musa underscores this reality.
Through one door into a military base, a civilian activist — labelled by some a provocateur — walked in. He sat opposite a hardened soldier, retired but still powerful. Yet, the soldier did not treat him with suspicion, or arrogance; instead, he asked for help. He asked for honesty. In that room, militarisation met citizen agency.
For those communities still reeling from attacks, that meeting offers a glimmer of hope: perhaps someone is listening. Perhaps, for the first time in a long while, the voices of the people are being taken seriously.
For Nigeria’s fragile security moment — marked by mass kidnappings, banditry, insurgency, and collapsed trust — that may be as important as tanks and troops.
The encounter between Verydarkman and Christopher Musa may never become a headline in its own right. But it speaks volumes about a shift underway — a slow rebalancing, where security is not only enforced, but interrogated, documented, and informed by citizens themselves.
As Musa assumes the mantle of Defence Minister, the nation watches. Will he be the same man who bowed out of the military with “a clear conscience”, but now returns with renewed authority? Will his engagement with civilians like Verydarkman foreshadow a more inclusive security framework — one that blends military strength with civilian oversight and transparency?
Only time will tell. But the June 19 encounter — one civilian, one soldier, one camera — may, in its quiet way, become a small turning point.
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