LAGOS, May 11 (AGCNewsNet) – Seventy trafficked Nigerian girls have been repatriated from abroad following a ₦20 million donation by social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as Verydarkman (VDM), to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP). The emotional return, documented in a now-viral video, has sparked widespread praise for the activist and his collaborators.

VDM disclosed in the video that he rushed to Lagos from Abuja after receiving an urgent call regarding the girls' arrival. He revealed that the owner of Nigerian airline Air Peace, Allen Onyema, facilitated the repatriation at no cost. According to VDM, Onyema incurred a financial loss of nearly ₦300 million due to changes in the flight schedule and also covered the medical expenses of all the returned girls.

"These girls were trafficked under harrowing circumstances, and some of them are even pregnant," VDM said in the video. He urged Nigerian border authorities, particularly the Nigeria Immigration Service, to tighten security to prevent further trafficking of underage girls.

The return operation comes amid VDM’s ongoing advocacy against child trafficking and follows his public criticism of certain government agencies, including the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), for failing to act swiftly in similar cases. He had previously called out NIDCOM chairperson Abike Dabiri for what he described as negligence in protecting vulnerable Nigerian girls trafficked abroad.

Social media reactions have been overwhelmingly supportive. “Na only we fit help us for Nigeria. We have to put all hands on deck to make Nigeria shine again,” a user wrote. Others applauded VDM and Onyema for what they called a “selfless act of national duty.”

“This proves that even the smallest act of help can make a world of difference,” another commenter noted, referring to the joy witnessed in the families of the rescued girls.

While the celebratory mood was strong, controversy has followed the activist’s recent criticisms of celebrities who donated to crossdresser Bobrisky’s welfare after his release from prison. Media personality Radiogad accused VDM of being a "hater" for his stance, escalating debates online.

Despite the backlash, the return of the trafficked girls has renewed public attention on human trafficking and bolstered support for grassroots-led interventions. NAPTIP has yet to release an official statement on the repatriation mission.

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Source: Legit.ng