VeryDarkMan Alleges Cattle Business Is Being Used to Hide Public Funds
Social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has alleged that the movement of cattle across Nigerian cities could be linked to an alleged scheme by some government officials to conceal and divert public funds.
VeryDarkMan made the claim on Tuesday while speaking at the 2026 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The activist, who is widely known as VDM, argued that the cattle business could provide a way for individuals with access to government resources to disguise the movement of allegedly diverted funds.
VDM Questions Why Cattle Still Roam Nigerian Cities
Speaking during the conference, VeryDarkMan drew attention to the large number of cattle frequently seen moving through streets and urban areas across the country.
He questioned why ranching had not become more widespread, suggesting that the continued movement of cattle could serve interests beyond traditional livestock farming.
According to him, some Nigerians may not recognise how such a business could allegedly be used to hide money because of the size and nature of the cattle trade.
Activist Claims Cattle Could Be Used to Conceal Billions
VeryDarkMan claimed that a single cow could sell for around ₦2 million, using the figure to illustrate how quickly large sums could be represented through livestock.
He said a person controlling about 500 cattle could theoretically have livestock worth approximately ₦1 billion, while 1,000 cattle could represent about ₦2 billion in value.
“The money that is being stolen from the government by government officials are put in the cow business,” VDM alleged.
He further claimed that the structure of the cattle business could make it difficult for ordinary Nigerians to identify the alleged movement of public funds.
VDM Links Ranching Debate to His Allegation
The activist also questioned why government authorities had not completely moved towards ranching, where cattle would be kept in designated locations rather than allowed to roam freely.
According to VDM, the continued practice could be connected to the financial interests of people involved in the cattle business.
“The government won’t tell the Fulani to stay in one place as ranching because that is their investment,” he said.
His comments add a controversial financial angle to Nigeria’s long-running debate over open grazing, ranching and livestock management.
Allegations Have Not Been Independently Established
VeryDarkMan’s comments were presented as allegations and claims made during his appearance at the NBA conference. The figures and alleged connection between cattle ownership and the diversion of government funds were not independently established in the remarks.
The comments are nevertheless likely to fuel further discussion around livestock management, public spending, open grazing and transparency in the use of government resources.
