From Online Activism to a National Movement
Social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, known online as VeryDarkMan (VDM), leads the Ratels. The group started as an online presence and has since grown into one of Nigeria’s most visible youth-led civic efforts in the Fourth Republic.
The Ratels mobilize through several channels. They organize coordinated community clean-up initiatives, conduct humanitarian outreach programs, lead public awareness campaigns, and support vulnerable people across the country. Through these efforts, they demonstrate that civic engagement goes far beyond posting online.
Protests That Demand Accountability
The Ratels also organize peaceful demonstrations. These protests demand greater government accountability, and have drawn national attention.
The group has protested against insecurity, economic hardship, the rising cost of living, and the killings in Benue State. Its members consistently call for justice, accountable governance, and stronger protection of citizens’ rights. Their actions underscore the constitutional rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression
The Ratels can mobilize thousands of young people for both community service and public advocacy, a capability that sets them apart from many earlier grassroots movements.
Will the Ratels Endure?
This is an important question. No one knows yet whether this group will become a lasting institution or remain a defining movement of this era. Either way, it has already rekindled civic participation among Nigerians who have long felt unheard and disconnected from those in power.
For now, the Ratels represent something bigger than a social movement. They provide ordinary people with a tangible platform to demand accountability, justice, and a more responsive government.
From the Streets to the Ballot Box?
Public dissatisfaction with governance keeps growing. Many Nigerians now believe the Ratels should move beyond civic activism and enter politics directly.
Their argument is simple. Protests and advocacy alone cannot achieve meaningful national change. Real change requires occupying the very institutions where leaders make decisions.