Activist, Verydarkman, has shared a detailed account of his private encounter with former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, following reports of Musa’s nomination as Minister of Defence by President Bola Tinubu.
In a lengthy video posted online, the outspoken activist revealed that the meeting happened months earlier, after he had publicly criticised General Musa over his comments on the Yelwata massacre in Benue State.
Yelewata attack
According to Verydarkman, on June 14, 2025, suspected herdsmen launched a deadly attack on the Yelwata community in Benue State, leaving many residents killed and several others injured.
Disturbed by the reports, he said he personally travelled to the community the next day, June 15, to see the devastation for himself.
He claimed he documented what he saw through photos and videos, capturing the destruction of homes, the grief of survivors, and the scale of the tragedy.
The graphic content, which he later uploaded online, reportedly forced attention from both the public and government authorities, as many Nigerians were shocked by the severity of the incident.
However, when General Musa later spoke on national television regarding the killings, Verydarkman said he was unhappy with the explanation given and felt the comments did not reflect the reality on the ground.
Angered by what he described as an “understatement” of the tragedy, he publicly reproached the CDS in a video that went viral across social media.
Two days after making the video, he said he began receiving messages that the Army was looking for him.
Verydarkman meets General Christopher Musa
Verydarkman explained that he was eventually taken to a military base in Asokoro, Abuja, where he said he did not know who he was going to meet until the door suddenly opened.
“When the door opened, I saw Christopher Musa—the same man I had blasted online,” he recounted.
According to him, the General immediately requested to speak with him alone and asked everyone else in the room to step outside.
He recalled that Musa then told him plainly, “I need your help.”
Verydarkman said he was surprised by the request and expected confrontation, but instead found himself in a calm conversation.
He explained that Musa asked him to give a detailed account of what he saw in Yelwata and any information he had gathered during his visit.
Verydarkman claimed he shared first-hand observations as well as videos and testimonies he had received from residents and individuals familiar with the long-standing conflict in the area.
He added that Musa listened carefully and asked questions, seeking clarity on specific details from the activist’s report.
Describing the encounter, Verydarkman said the General’s approach surprised him:
“For a Chief of Defence Staff to call Verydarkman to his house and say ‘I need your help,’ it shows he was genuinely looking for solutions. There was no pride.”
He further claimed that Musa’s willingness to hear from a civilian activist showed a level of openness he had not expected from a top military officer.
According to him, the discussion went beyond public statements and focused more on finding practical ways to curb such attacks and reduce civilian suffering.
The activist said the meeting changed his perspective and made him realise that not all decisions are taken without consultation, even if the public is unaware of what happens behind closed doors.
Following reports of Musa’s nomination as Defence Minister, Verydarkman said he felt compelled to share the story to give people insight into the kind of person he met months earlier.
He stressed that his account was based strictly on his personal experience and not intended to influence public opinion either for or against the nomination.
According to him, Nigerians should judge based on leadership actions and results, especially in areas concerning peace and security.
Watch video below …