Protests over rising insecurity entered their fourth consecutive day in Abuja on Saturday, with large crowds gathering at the Karu Bridge area to renew demands for urgent government action against the wave of killings and kidnappings sweeping across Nigeria.

Demonstrators chanted slogans calling for the ruling party to step down and for the safe return of abducted children, voicing growing frustration over the government’s handling of the crisis.

Social media activist, Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has emerged as one of the most visible faces of the demonstrations since returning to Nigeria from China earlier in the week. He joined members of his Ratel Movement in a protest march to the Nigerian Air Force Base in Abuja, where they raised concerns over the growing cases of banditry, kidnappings, and killings nationwide. His appearance at the Karu Bridge protest site drew a massive reaction, with the crowd chanting his name as he joined the demonstration.

The protests have been framed around the deepening insecurity crisis, particularly the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State and similar attacks in Borno. VeryDarkMan declared that President Bola Tinubu has failed Nigerians, citing the inability of the police, military, and government to protect citizens, and called for urgent accountability.

Protesters marched near government buildings, demanding decisive action over the violence ravaging states including Oyo, Katsina, and Zamfara.

The activist has not held back in his criticism of security agencies present at the protests, questioning the effectiveness of personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps stationed at the demonstrations and referencing recent attacks while urging stronger action against terrorism and kidnapping. His comments have triggered mixed reactions online, with some Nigerians praising him for speaking out while others have accused him of politicising the security crisis.

The Abuja demonstrations have also drawn a sharp response from northern groups, with one youth leader warning the activist against staging protests in the capital and urging him to relocate his demonstrations elsewhere, while cautioning that northern Nigerians were ready to resist any disruption. Despite the pushback, VeryDarkMan has signalled plans to continue, announcing intentions to lead supporters to the Ministry of Defence for another round of protests.

The Abuja protests mirror demonstrations in other parts of the country. In Lagos, a separate march was led by prominent civil rights figures, citing recent abductions including the kidnapping of students and a relative of a former minister in Oyo State, and stressing that every Nigerian life must be protected. Beyond security, demonstrators in Abuja have also called for improved governance, economic relief, and greater accountability from public officials amid the rising cost of living.

As the protests stretch into a fourth day with no clear resolution in sight, pressure continues to mount on the federal government to deliver concrete results on the rescue of abducted victims and a broader crackdown on the armed groups behind the escalating violence.