“Nobody Dey Fear You!” — Verydarkman Fires Back at Pastor David Ibiyeomie Over Threats to Arrest Bloggers

In a country where religious leaders often command enormous influence and reverence, a fiery standoff has erupted between popular social activist Verydarkman and the flamboyant Pastor David Ibiyeomie of Salvation Ministries. The showdown, already causing ripples across social media, was ignited by a viral video in which Pastor Ibiyeomie sternly warned bloggers and online news outlets to stop reporting about him or face arrest.

The pastor, known for his powerful sermons and massive following, didn’t mince words during his recent church address. In a tone many described as authoritarian, he threatened to deploy legal force against anyone who dared write about him or his ministry without his permission. The video clip, which quickly made rounds on platforms like Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), struck a nerve with both critics and supporters, sparking a widespread debate on freedom of expression, abuse of influence, and the unchecked power of Nigeria’s religious elite.

Enter Verydarkman, a vocal social critic known for tackling issues head-on, often without regard for whose toes he steps on. He wasted no time in responding to the pastor’s threat. In a strongly worded video posted to his own page, he called out Ibiyeomie for what he described as “abuse of power,” accusing the cleric of attempting to use the Nigerian police as a personal weapon to silence dissent and control public narratives.

“I know you travel around the world,” Verydarkman said in his passionate takedown, “have you seen anybody using police to lock up people for talking? That means you are using your influence now to say that you can use the police to oppress. You can’t try this in other countries because those police would do their investigations. You cannot command police to do anything, whether you are influential or not.”

He didn’t stop there. His words carried the frustration of many Nigerians who feel cornered by a justice system easily manipulated by those with wealth and status. “That is why I say even the pastors follow spoil the country, but people don’t understand what I was saying. Nobody dey fear you. Who are you that we will fear, are you not a human being?”

Verydarkman’s bold challenge immediately caught fire, with thousands weighing in across social media. The comments section of his video quickly transformed into a battleground of opinions, with some hailing him as a fearless truth-teller and others accusing him of disrespecting a man of God.

One user, @Abasiono_Ek, didn’t hold back: “This stupidity got into the church too. As the leaders brag and are above the law so are the pastors now. Wetin we never see? I like that phrase ‘to liberate a nation we have to drop respect.’ E make sense!”

Another commenter, @TVNDEY, directed blame at worshippers who revere pastors without question: “Na people wey dey call them men of God I blame. These people are worse in character and everything, na scriptures them dey take cover up.”

@olumidebravo3 painted a sobering picture of misplaced priorities: “We have more churches than cinemas. More churches than schools. More churches than hospitals. Not until we begin to see the fraud, we shall never be free.”

The tension between Nigeria’s new media voices and its old institutions is nothing new, but this particular face-off seems to underscore a deeper national crisis — one where power, be it political, spiritual, or financial, increasingly operates above the law. With the internet giving activists like Verydarkman a platform to counter these power structures, the stage is set for more public confrontations of this nature.

Critics of Ibiyeomie argue that his call for arrests is not just undemocratic, but dangerous. In a country where journalists and bloggers have been arbitrarily detained in the past, such statements only embolden a culture of censorship and fear. The pastor’s defenders, however, maintain that he is simply trying to protect his name and ministry from malicious misinformation — a fair concern in the age of viral fake news.

Yet, what is becoming increasingly clear is that the days when religious leaders could make sweeping pronouncements without consequence are slowly fading. Today’s Nigeria is more vocal, more skeptical, and more connected than ever. And as Verydarkman’s daring response shows, the youth are no longer willing to sit quietly while power — even sacred power — goes unchecked.

The broader conversation sparked by this saga is about accountability. Can a man of God demand immunity from scrutiny? Can wealth and status still be used to weaponize the justice system? And what happens when those with the loudest microphones meet those with the strongest convictions?

In many ways, this isn’t just a story about one pastor and one activist. It’s a mirror held up to Nigerian society — a society grappling with the contradictions of reverence and resistance, faith and fear, silence and speech.

While Pastor Ibiyeomie has not issued a formal response to Verydarkman's video, the internet is buzzing with anticipation. Will the influential cleric double down on his threats, or will he attempt to clarify his stance? Will law enforcement be drawn into the fray, or will this remain a war of words in the court of public opinion?

For now, the last word belongs to the people, who — behind anonymous handles and viral hashtags — are refusing to be silenced. In the words of one commenter, “To liberate a nation, we have to drop respect.” A controversial sentiment, no doubt, but one that encapsulates the growing impatience of a generation unwilling to bow to titles that no longer command trust.

In a nation bursting at the seams with churches, sermons, and spirituality, perhaps it’s time for a new kind of worship — one rooted in truth, transparency, and the courage to speak up, even when the pulpit shakes.