Popular Nigerian streamer and content creator Carter Efe has openly criticized social media commentator Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), over his recent move to import the newly launched iPhone 18 directly from China. Speaking during a live broadcast on Friday, Carter Efe accused VDM of attempting to sabotage the businesses of local electronics dealers, particularly those of Igbo descent who heavily populate Nigeria’s smartphone market.
Carter Efe Warns VDM Over Market Disruption
According to Carter Efe, VDM’s venture into direct device sourcing is an unwelcome interference in a trade sector where he has no prior experience. He warned that bypassing established supply chains to offer direct-to-consumer sales could provoke severe backlash from Nigerian merchants who rely on importing these gadgets for their livelihood.
Expressing his concerns in Pidgin English during the stream, Carter Efe suggested that VDM’s actions could put him in jeopardy with Igbo merchants operating in China. He cautioned that VDM is treading on dangerous ground by threatening the established business ecosystems of these traders.
Questions Over VDM’s Sudden Business Pivot
Carter Efe further questioned the activist’s sudden interest in the mobile retail market, pointing out that VDM has never been known as a smartphone vendor. He questioned the motive behind the move, asking why a commentator would suddenly transition into international logistics and retail.
‘VDM does not sell phones, but he goes to China wanting to buy phones to sell. He wants to spoil people’s business,’ Efe said during the broadcast. ‘I have never seen that kind of person before; are you a witch?’
The Catalyst: VDM’s Direct Sourcing Campaign
This controversy follows a viral video shared by VeryDarkMan from an Apple Store in China shortly after the global launch of the iPhone 18. In the video, VDM expressed his determination to assist Nigerian consumers in acquiring the premium devices directly at standard prices, thereby avoiding the heavily inflated retail markups often imposed by local boutique vendors in Nigeria.
While many budget-conscious consumers have lauded VDM’s initiative as a consumer-friendly move against price gouging, critics like Carter Efe argue that it threatens the micro-economies of local tech hubs like Computer Village in Lagos, where thousands of traders earn a living through device retailing.