VDM, Zlatan and Davido Feud Keeps Social Media Busy

A public clash involving social media activist VeryDarkMan, rapper Zlatan Ibile and Afrobeats star Davido is trending again, with old arguments around Mohbad's death back in the spotlight.

This is based on verified public posts and reports from Punch Entertainment published Nov 6, 2026 - updated Nov 9 - plus Instagram and X posts from the people involved.

Who said what publicly

The latest round started with music.

Zlatan released a new song INFERNO ft Peruzzi & Shoday in late October. In the track he raps: "I am not Vincent, I can't masturbate." Listeners on X and Instagram widely interpreted it as a reference to VeryDarkMan, real name Vincent Otse, who had previously made public comments about masturbation. Zlatan has not publicly confirmed the line was about VDM.

VDM responded on Instagram with videos mocking Zlatan's recent wedding and album promotion. In one public post, he said: "Someone who did a whole wedding because he wanted to promote his album; the album did not go viral, nor did the wedding." He also challenged Zlatan to keep INFERNO at number one on Apple Music Nigeria for a full month.

Zlatan posted a cryptic reply on X on Nov 4: "You can't complain about someone giving you a taste of your own medicine when you were the one who prescribed the dose."

The feud widened to include Davido. At Zlatan's wedding welcome party in Morocco / Marrakesh last week, a video showed Davido singing along loudly to the disputed lyric from INFERNO. The video went viral on Instagram.

VDM then posted a studio preview on Nov 4 of a diss track titled "On My Knees" - caption: "On my kneels FT ZLATAN ...OUT SOON / I want see the worst that can happen". The track uses Zlatan's slang "kapaichumarimarichupako". As of Nov 5, Punch reports it had not been released on streaming platforms.

VDM also released two longer videos on Nov 5 explaining the fallout with Davido. He said they became friendly in early 2024 after Davido followed him during the Justice for Mohbad campaign, but that he later obtained what he claims was a WhatsApp group conversation in 2025 involving people in Davido's circle - names he mentioned include Iyabo Ojo, Samklef, Dre DMW. He alleged the group discussed his arrest in 2024. These claims have not been independently verified.

Davido has not directly responded. His logistics manager Isreal DMW posted on Nov 5-6: "Oga had no hands in Naira Marley's ordeals during his trying times in Mohbad's case or in any plot to see VDM being arrested."

Why the story is spreading fast

Three reasons.

First, it mixes music and drama. Zlatan's INFERNO is currently No.1 on radio and streaming, so the lyric is everywhere. A wedding video with Davido singing it makes it visual and shareable.

Second, it taps into Mohbad. Mohbad, Ilerioluwa Aloba, died Sept 12, 2023 at 27. The public demand for justice was massive. Any story linking back to that campaign gets instant traction because emotions are still high.

Third, all three have huge fan bases - VDM's Ratels, Zlatan's Zanku fans, Davido's 30BG. When they clash, comment sections become battlefields and algorithms push it more.

Why writers must avoid rumours

This story is sensitive and already has many unverified claims flying around.

Writers must stick to:

• What is on verified pages: Instagram posts from @verydarkblackman, @zlatan_ibile, @davido, and X posts.
• What reputable outlets like Punch report as "allegedly" and clearly state has not been verified.

What to avoid:

• Do not state as fact that Davido or Zlatan planned anyone's arrest. That allegation is from VDM only and Punch notes it remains unsubstantiated / not independently verified.
• Do not state as fact that Davido was paid or that INFERNO lyric was confirmed as a diss - until the artists say so, report as "widely interpreted as" .
• Do not repeat claims about Mohbad's death beyond what is confirmed. Mohbad's case is still a justice issue, not gist to use for clout.