A Nigerian social media influencer, VeryDarkMan, has publicly criticised Nollywood actress Tonto Dikeh following the online circulation of a video showing her leading a spiritual “deliverance” session involving students during a school visit.
The incident took place on Friday, March 6, 2026. Dikeh posted multiple clips on her Instagram account from an evangelism outreach at an undisclosed school. In the videos, she stated that while preparing to leave, she perceived a “spirit of death” in the environment. She alerted her team, and the group commenced praying, which escalated into a public deliverance session that included some pupils.
VeryDarkMan, whose real name is not widely publicised, responded forcefully to the clips. He condemned the involvement of children in such dramatised spiritual activities and explicitly warned Dikeh against returning to the school, which he identified as being within his local community. The influencer urged her to redirect her efforts towards tangible, practical support for youth rather than public religious displays.
In his Instagram response, VeryDarkMan referenced his own direct contributions to the school facility, highlighting renovation work he has undertaken to support the students. “With all due respect to Tonto Dikeh … this is a warning do not come to my area to do this again…. [It seems] only poor man’s children are good to test your powers. Leave my area kids alone,” he wrote. He added, “We want to raise kids with real life orientation not an ideology that if you don’t make it there is something following you from village. Prayers are good; however, without work prayers are not useful. Take your new content somewhere else, leave ghetto kids alone.”
The posts have ignited a discussion on social media regarding the appropriateness of public exorcism-style rituals involving minors, particularly within educational institutions. The debate touches on the boundaries of religious freedom, child welfare, and the responsibilities of public figures who engage with vulnerable communities. While Dikeh framed the event as a compassionate spiritual intervention, critics like VeryDarkMan argue it exploits children for content and promotes potentially harmful superstitions.
The confrontation underscores a growing tension in parts of Nigeria between celebrity-led evangelism and community-led development initiatives. VeryDarkMan’s stance is rooted in his self-described role as a local advocate, positioning his infrastructural support as a more substantive form of aid compared to the actress’s spiritual performance. The school’s administration has not yet issued a public statement regarding the visit or the subsequent controversy. The situation highlights the delicate balance between personal faith expression and the protection of children in public and semi-public spaces.
