Popular Nigerian social critic Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkman (VDM), has suggested that the most effective way to tackle Nigeria’s growing security challenges is through aggressive investment in education. He made this assertion in a video posted on his official Instagram page on Monday, where he addressed what he described as the root causes of terrorism in the country.
VDM argued that the lack of formal education—particularly in parts of northern Nigeria—has contributed significantly to the vulnerability of young people, making them easy targets for recruitment by criminal groups. According to him, many perpetrators of terrorism emerge from regions where education is limited, leaving large numbers of youths idle and exposed to exploitation.
He further stated that any Nigerian leader willing to dedicate at least half of an eight-year tenure to enforcing and expanding access to education in the North would greatly improve national security. VDM warned that without urgent action, the country may face deeper instability, stressing that knowledge remains the most powerful tool in preventing extremism and breaking cycles of manipulation.