Controversial social media personality and activist VeryDarkMan (VDM) has ignited fresh debate after accusing supporters of Omoyele Sowore of abandoning the cause of Nnamdi Kanu when the former was arrested.  VDM tweeted that

“Nnamdi Kanu protest went down immediately they arrested Sowore because the people don’t even know what they’re fighting for. They went to support Sowore because of hype.”

He added: “It’s baffling Sowore got arrested and his people went home. You all are pieces of…” According to Gistlover

That blunt message has stirred online discussion over the authenticity of protest movements and the role of social media in mobilising youth activism.

The Accusation: Protest or Publicity?

VDM’s broader claim is that many Nigerians who joined the rallying cry around Nnamdi Kanu’s release did so not out of conviction, but for visibility and social-media traction. He argues the momentum vanished as soon as Sowore’s detention captured headlines.

“They don’t even know what they’re fighting for,” he claimed. According to  Gistlover

His remarks point to a growing conversation: is protest in Nigeria driven by cause  or by character and click-bait?

Online reactions split almost evenly. Some users agreed with VDM’s verdict, saying past protests quickly fizzle once the spotlight shifts. Others slammed the activist for belittling genuine grievances and casting aspersions on grassroots movements.

READ MORE: Ned Nwoko Urges FG to Create Anioma State and Free Nnamdi Kanu for Lasting Peace in South-East

One social-media user wrote:

“VDM is right  many protests die when the cameras leave.”
Another responded:
“Shameful to trivialise the risk real activists take just because some join for the feed.”

Sowore’s Arrest and Kanu’s Cause

It’s worth noting that Sowore’s arrest itself was not without controversy.

According to Pointblank News, the Nigeria Police Force said Sowore was arrested for allegedly leading protesters into a restricted area during a “Free Nnamdi Kanu” demonstration in Abuja.

Meanwhile, Nnamdi Kanu  the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)  remains a polarising figure in Nigeria’s political and separatist discourse. The crux of VDM’s claim is that the protest lost its firepower when the personalities involved hit a snag  raising questions about the staying power of issue-based mobilisation.

VDM’s criticism may sting, but it also holds a mirror up to Nigeria’s youth-led movements. The questions his mocking tone raises are serious:

• Do protests survive when the leader is detained or sidelined?

• Are youth mobilisation efforts anchored in deep conviction — or fuelled by momentary trends and online clout?

• How can genuine activism avoid being painted as spectacle?

“Nnamdi Kanu protest went down immediately they arrested Sowore because the people don’t even know what they’re f!ght!ng for. They went to support Sowore because of hype. It’s baffling Sowore got arrested and his people went home. You all are pieces of 💩”

— VeryDarkMan pic.twitter.com/drtdLRLk3n

— 𝐀𝐬𝐚𝐤𝐲𝐆𝐑𝐍 (@AsakyGRN) October 29, 2025