- Suspect Arrested as ₦160 Million Remains Unrecovered
- Popular Commentator Vows Justice After Devastating Cyber Attack
In a shocking turn of events, social media commentator and philanthropist Martins Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has revealed that over ₦180 million was siphoned from the account of his NGO in a brazen hacking incident.
Otse, who shared the distressing news in an emotional Instagram video on Friday, disclosed that the funds had been diverted to an unknown account.
“I’ve not been myself these past few days,” Otse admitted. “Somebody hacked into the NGO website, and ₦180 million is missing. Thankfully, we’ve tracked the person, and one suspect has been arrested.”
According to Otse, swift action has been taken to contain the damage. The affected account has been placed on Post No Debit (PND) status, freezing the remaining ₦20 million, while efforts to recover the stolen ₦160 million are underway.
“We’re heading to Jos to recover the money,” he revealed, adding that his team has temporarily suspended the NGO’s app for maintenance to prevent further breaches.
The Martins Vincent Osei Initiative, launched in October, quickly gained traction as a beacon of hope. Within hours of its launch, the NGO raised over ₦35 million in donations, with renowned music producer Michael Collins Ajereh, better known as Don Jazzy, contributing a generous ₦100 million to support its mission.
The recent cyberattack has cast a shadow over what was a promising philanthropic journey, but Otse remains resolute.
While shaken by the incident, Otse has assured supporters that every effort is being made to recover the funds and strengthen the NGO’s digital security. He has also promised to keep the public updated as investigations progress.
The brazen attack has sparked widespread reactions, with many calling for stricter cybersecurity measures and tougher penalties for cybercrimes.
“This isn’t just an attack on me or the NGO—it’s an attack on the people we aim to serve,” Otse stated firmly. “We will recover what’s been taken, and justice will prevail.”
As law enforcement zeroes in on the culprits, this incident serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities in the digital age, especially for organizations driven by goodwill.
