Nigeria’s online community is buzzing following a bold marketing move by tech entrepreneur Blord, who recently unveiled a billboard promoting his new Ratel app—featuring the image and voice of controversial social media activist VeryDarkMan (VDM).
Blord, whose real name is Linus Williams Ifejirika, shared the billboard on social media, instantly triggering widespread reactions.
What made the campaign especially surprising is the long-standing and very public feud between Blord and VeryDarkMan, whose real name is Martins Vincent Otse. Both figures are influential in Nigeria’s digital space, but they have often found themselves on opposing sides of heated online debates.
The rift between the two personalities reportedly began in 2025, when VeryDarkMan accused Blord of allegedly selling refurbished iPhone XR devices while presenting them as iPhone 17 Pro models, with claims that customers were being overcharged and deceived.
Blord strongly denied the allegations, insisting that his business practices were legitimate. The accusations quickly snowballed into a major online showdown, drawing massive attention from Nigerians across social media platforms.
Tensions escalated further over the ownership of the name “Ratel.” VeryDarkMan had previously used the term to describe his loyal supporter base before Blord officially trademarked it for his tech product.
The move sparked intense debate, with supporters on both sides arguing over who truly owns the brand identity. The dispute spilled into legal discussions and became a central point in their rivalry.
With Blord now using VeryDarkMan’s image and audio in a high-profile billboard campaign, many Nigerians see the move as provocative, strategic, or both.
Regardless of interpretation, the stunt has once again placed both men at the center of online conversations, proving that their rivalry continues to shape discussions in Nigeria’s ever-active digital
