Popular social media commentator Martins Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has revealed a significant hacking incident that resulted in the theft of over ₦180 million from his NGO’s account. Otse shared the news on Instagram on Friday, describing the ordeal as deeply distressing.
According to Otse, the hackers diverted ₦160 million from the account, leaving only ₦20 million. “Somebody hacked into the NGO website, and ₦180 million is missing,” he stated in the video. “Thankfully, we’ve tracked the person, and one suspect has been arrested.”
To safeguard the remaining funds, the account has been placed on Post No Debit (PND), and the NGO’s app has been temporarily shut down for maintenance. Otse assured his followers that efforts to recover the stolen funds are underway. “We’re heading to Jos to recover the money,” he added, expressing optimism about the progress of the investigation.
The Martins Vincent Osei Initiative, launched in October 2024, gained widespread attention after raising ₦35 million in donations within hours. The campaign received a significant boost when renowned music producer Don Jazzy contributed ₦100 million to the cause.
Despite the setback, Otse expressed gratitude for the support his NGO has received and promised to provide updates on the recovery process. “We’re taking every measure to ensure this doesn’t happen again,” he said.
This incident highlights the growing risk of cyberattacks on charitable organizations, emphasizing the need for stringent security measures to protect public donations.
