A dramatic live‑streamed clash between Nigerian social media influencer King Mitchy and activist VeryDarkMan (VDM) has erupted into one of the most talked‑about controversies on Nigerian social platforms this week. What began as a heated online debate over school renovation projects and accusations involving prominent figures quickly escalated into shocking claims, confusion, and viral ‘death’ announcements that have left millions of viewers questioning what is real and what is staged.
On her official Instagram account on Saturday morning, February 28, King Mitchy’s management reportedly declared her deceased after she was seen consuming a harmful substance during a livestream. This claim was later denied by a hospital that said she was never treated there.
Shortly after the announcement, a purported death announcement for VDM was shared on his verified Instagram.
Background
Mukoro Ereremena Michelle aka King Mitchy is a Nigerian social media personality, content creator and philanthropist known for using platforms like TikTok and Instagram to share videos of charitable acts and community support.
She rose to prominence through heartfelt clips showing aid to vulnerable families and individuals in Lagos and beyond, building millions of followers with her emotionally charged content and public giving. By 2025, she had received significant support and donations from notable Nigerians, including alleged support from Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu and even won the Headies Humanitarian Award for her charity work.
Martins Vincent Otse aka VeryDarkMan (VDM) is a Nigerian social media influencer and outspoken activist. Known for his viral commentary on political and social issues, VDM uses his sizable following to challenge perceived injustices, corruption and ineffective leadership in Nigeria. Since gaining momentum in 2022, he has been involved in multiple controversies, including legal disputes and public back‑and‑forths with celebrities and figures he criticises.
Seyi Tinubu, son of Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, became part of the controversy when VDM accused him of politically supporting King Mitchy and funding her charity projects to boost influence ahead of elections. Amid the clash, it was reported that Seyi unfollowed King Mitchy on Instagram, highlighting the strain between the parties.
His Imperial Majesty (HIM), Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife, also surfaced in the dispute after screenshots of an alleged WhatsApp chat between him and King Mitchy circulated online. VDM criticised the situation, expressing surprise that the Ooni would privately reach out to Mitchy, and later King Mitchy publicly apologised for comments that many interpreted as disrespectful toward the monarch.
Carter Efe, a popular digital creator, entered the scene indirectly when King Mitchy later claimed a reported ₦100 million donation from Seyi Tinubu was actually a planned publicity stunt between her and Carter Efe. This statement further muddled the narrative around funding, influence and online spectacle.
How the Conflict Escalated
The clash between Nigerian content creator King Mitchy and activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan or VDM, in February 2026 erupted over allegations of NGO fund mismanagement, political backing, and personal attacks, and it quickly spiraled into a heated online feud. The tension began after King Mitchy shared videos documenting the completion of a school renovation project, which she claimed was done in six days with donor support, including contributions from Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu. She wrote, “I have never seen anyone with integrity explain every day that he/she has integrity. I did this in six days to show you how easy it is if you truly want to do something.”
VDM publicly challenged her claims, framing the project as politically motivated. “@Seyitinubu YOUR FATHER FIRST 4 years failed so bad that the ministry of education stopped working, so you need Mitchy to renovate schools… THAT POLITICAL TOOL YOU PEOPLE KEPT UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF D and charity,” he posted, directly attacking her role in the initiative.
When King Mitchy called out VDM for allegedly failing to use his NGO funds to renovate schools, he responded in detail, saying, “Seyi Tinubu gave you money to renovate a school so that you can sing his praises and you think you are special? You are just a political tool. He didn’t give you money in 2023, 2024, or 2025. He gave you in 2026 because he wants to campaign for an election. His father has failed in the last 4 years and Nigerians are not happy with him.” He continued, “If not that the government has failed, is it your role or my role to renovate schools? It is the ministry of education’s job to do that but they failed. Seyi gave you money to renovate the schools so he can be seen as a good guy. Mitchy, it is not the grace of God you are enjoying, it is the grace of your pun@ni.”
As the disagreement escalated, their exchanges drew the attention of netizens, who rallied behind each side, turning insults into a viral spectacle. The dispute became deeply personal when VDM made suggestive “lollipop” remarks, implying that King Mitchy’s relationship with Seyi Tinubu was inappropriate. Seyi Tinubu publicly denied these insinuations.
The feud intensified when King Mitchy’s main and backup Instagram accounts were reported and taken down, which she claimed was orchestrated by VDM’s supporters, known as the “Ratels,” effectively cutting off her primary source of income.
Further controversy arose after influencer Nedu, host of The Honest Bunch podcast, allegedly leaked chats suggesting that a new car King Mitchy claimed to own did not actually belong to her, feeding VDM’s narrative that her lifestyle was exaggerated.
In addition to these accusations, VDM raised concerns about threats to his safety, directly naming King Mitchy and Seyi Tinubu as responsible if harm came to him or those close to him. He posted, “Seyi Tinubu and Mitchy are threatening my life. Mitchy sent a chat to kokopee my friend last night. She also texted another person. If anything happens to me, please hold the two of them responsible. Seyi is the son of the president. He can do and undo. He can set me up because he is very influential. Seyi Tinubu is angry because I am speaking about the evil of the government. Mitchy said it in the chat that ‘what is coming for me is heavy.’”
He further added, “I know they are still planning to arrest or kpai me, but before they kpai me, I will still say the truth. Mitchy, why have you not taken Seyi inside the Benz that was bought for you, to the slum where you give people money so he can see their condition. He gives you money to give those people crumbs so that you can shower his praises. Everything is just a strategy. That is The Lagos they said President Tinubu built. At least you can use the ₦100 million he gave you to build houses for the common man. Even dogs are not meant to live in those places human beings are living. I am going to post more videos and expose how she exploits people.”
Tension Before the Livestream: Instagram Unfollow & Digital Battles
Two days before the livestream, Seyi Tinubu reportedly unfollowed King Mitchy on Instagram, prompting speculation about his stance amid the feud. Around the same time, King Mitchy publicly complained that her Instagram business page, which is her main source of income, had been taken down. She alleged that VDM’s supporters, known as the Ratels, had mass-reported her page. She warned VDM in Instagram Stories:
“VeryDarkMan, your people have taken down my business page, my source of income… You removed food from my mouth. Let us not go this lane o. I want to let you know that it will not be funny.”
This prelude set the stage for heightened emotions and tensions that would soon erupt during the livestream.
The Live Stream Incident
The controversy reached its peak during a TikTok livestream, where King Mitchy appeared to consume a harmful chemical known locally as hypo. She seemingly drank the bleach-based substance following heightened criticism from netizens and fans of VDM. Viewers were shocked as she drank from the sachet while addressing followers, sparking widespread alarm.
The livestream came after escalating tensions over accusations of political influence, alleged misuse of NGO funds, and public challenges between the two influencers. Screenshots of alleged chats with Ooni of Ife also circulated, adding fuel to the fire. Many viewers begged Mitchy to stop, warning about the dangers of ingesting chemicals.
Shortly after the livestream, viral posts claimed King Mitchy had been rushed to a hospital in Abuja and later died. Emotional captions described her mother fainting and her condition as critical.
These reports were denied by Prime Care Hospitals, which confirmed she had never been admitted and described the death claims as misinformation. Around the same time, VDM’s team also posted a death announcement for him, complete with a coffin image, intensifying confusion.
The announcement followed a video in which VDM appeared to drink a sachet containing the same substance King Mitchy had consumed. Shortly after, he collapsed in his seat and had to be carried out by his friends.
Ultimately, these “death announcements” were widely interpreted as viral theatrics rather than confirmed events.
Seyi Tinubu, HIM Ooni of Ife, Carter Efe: The Wave of Public Denials
As the controversy widened, three prominent figures issued firm public denials, distancing themselves from the claims circulating online.
Seyi Tinubu was the first to formally break his silence, on February 28, addressing the dispute between VeryDarkMan and King Mitchy on his social media page. He categorically rejected all allegations of impropriety, stating, “Let me be clear: the allegations and insinuations made about me are false.” He explained that he met Mitchy only once in a public setting, alongside others, where he offered financial support toward her NGO activities. He described the support as consistent with his broader record of backing youth-focused and community initiatives. A follow-up meeting to review the impact of the donation, he said, never happened due to his ill health. “There has never been a private encounter, no secret arrangement, and no impropriety of any kind,” he added.
Tinubu also criticized what he described as attempts to weaponize his name for attention. “If my name generates attention, let us at least deal in facts. Supporting charitable causes is not a crime. Meeting someone publicly to support their NGO is not a scandal. Repeating falsehoods loudly does not transform them into truth.” Emphasising that philanthropy should not be politicised, he concluded with a call for restraint: “Nigeria needs builders, not bullies. We need responsible discourse, not sensationalism driven by speculation.”
Separately, Oba Omotooyosi Bayo M. Akinleye publicly dismissed the alleged WhatsApp exchange purportedly involving the Ooni of Ife. Posting on X after reportedly speaking directly with the monarch, he stated, “After speaking with His Imperial Majesty, I can confirm that the WhatsApp message circulating on social media from one Mitchy is fake and fabricated.” He urged the public to disengage from what he described as clout-driven distractions surrounding the issue.
Meanwhile, content creator Carter Efe also found himself pulled into the dispute after King Mitchy claimed that her earlier statement about receiving ₦100 million was merely a staged “cruise” planned with him during a livestream. Carter Efe promptly denied any involvement. In a video response, he appealed directly to her, saying, “Mitchy, please don’t put me in trouble.” He further challenged her to present concrete evidence including dates, times, or locations to substantiate her claim that they orchestrated the stunt together.
Conclusion
The King Mitchy–VDM saga highlights the power and peril of social media in Nigeria. What began as a personal feud over charity projects and accusations of political influence quickly spiraled into a viral spectacle complete with alleged poison ingestion, “death announcements,” and public calls to accountability. While the drama captivated millions, official statements from hospitals and repeated clarifications reveal that much of the most shocking content was viral theatrics rather than verified events.
Beyond the spectacle, the incident raises serious questions about online responsibility, digital influence, and the real-world consequences of clout-driven content.
As the dust settles, with a fresh update that King Mitchy is now okay, it’s clear that in this age of instant virality, social media fame comes with both visibility and vulnerability, and the line between reality and performance can blur in ways that leave both creators and followers questioning what’s real.
Discussion about this post