The Nigerian government has called for a thorough investigation into the mysterious death of Ladi Olubunmi, a Nigerian TikTok content moderator, who was found dead in her Nairobi apartment, Kenya.
The Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, on Thursday, urged Kenyan authorities to fully investigate the circumstances surrounding Olubunmi’s death, which has raised concerns about the treatment of Nigerians working abroad.
Olubunmi, employed by the social media contracting firm Teleperformance, was discovered dead in her apartment last week, three days after her colleagues noticed her absence from work. Her body was found in an advanced state of decomposition. Reports have emerged, including one from the Associated Press, suggesting that some of Olubunmi’s colleagues accused Teleperformance of preventing her from traveling back to Nigeria, despite her repeated requests.
In a statement issued by NiDCOM’s Media and Public Relations Unit, Dabiri-Erewa expressed deep concern about the situation and called for stronger labor laws to protect Nigerians working overseas. She emphasized that proper labor mobility laws in Nigeria would ensure the rights and well-being of Nigerians abroad, offering better documentation, monitoring, and support systems for overseas workers.
“We urge a thorough investigation by Kenyan authorities to uncover the circumstances surrounding Olubunmi’s untimely passing,” Dabiri-Erewa said, also extending condolences to Olubunmi’s family, friends, and colleagues. She stressed the importance of providing mental health support and establishing effective oversight mechanisms for Nigerians working internationally.
NiDCOM has been in contact with the Nigerian High Commission in Kenya to assist Olubunmi’s family and ensure the investigation is pursued with the utmost diligence.
This tragic incident follows a series of unexplained deaths involving Nigerians in Kenya, with a similar case in July 2021, where two Nigerians died under suspicious circumstances at a house party in Nairobi. These events have raised significant concerns about the safety and welfare of Nigerian expatriates in the country.
