Late Ruth Otabor, sister to Big Brother Naija star Phyna, has passed away, leaving a trail of heartbreak, unanswered questions, and a sense of loss that words struggle to hold.
The fresh graduate, a young mother, sister, and friend, was involved in a tragic accident on August 13, 2025, at Auchi Polytechnic, Edo State.
The crash, involving a Dangote Group truck, left her critically injured and eventually amputated. Yet, in those first days, there was hope, hope that she might survive, heal, and reclaim a piece of her life.
That hope was carried by her sister, Phyna, who became Ruth’s voice, her fiercest advocate. Outspoken, unrelenting, and deeply protective, Phyna demanded justice from the Dangote Group and called for immediate advanced treatment abroad.
Details about Ruth’s exact condition were never made public, but Phyna’s sporadic posts on X painted a picture of an unrelenting struggle behind hospital walls. In one of her posts, she pleaded.
“Anytime you remember Ruth, please say a prayer for her.”
On August 24, a video shared by PUNCH Online captured Phyna in a meeting with the management of the Dangote Group, where she insisted that her sister be flown abroad, specifically to India, for advanced medical treatment.
The Dangote Group, in a statement on August 16, had pledged, “We are ensuring full support for Mrs. Otabor, including comprehensive medical care and appropriate compensation, in line with Dangote Group’s welfare policy.
“Our thoughts remain with Mrs. Ruth Otabor and her loved ones, and we wish her a full and speedy recovery.”
Talks for her transfer to India for specialist treatment dragged on. Just days before her death, Phyna shared an update from the Dangote group that felt both hopeful and haunting in hindsight.
“Please note we are ready to positively consider all options necessary for the treatment of Ruth as soon as she is certified to travel,” the group had assured her. That moment of clarity never came.
On Sunday morning, at about 6:30 a.m., Ruth’s fight ended.
Her family, through Eko Solicitors & Advocates, announced her passing with broken hearts. And almost instantly, celebrities, colleagues, and ordinary Nigerians flooded Phyna’s page with condolences.
Fellow BBNaija stars Nini Singh and Wanni wrote, “I’m so sorry, dear, please accept my condolences.”
“Oh no! I’m so pained… Ruth went through too much pain. May her soul rest in peace.”
Nollywood actress, Kate Henshaw, also expressed her sympathy, “Ehhh God! May God comfort your family at this difficult time.”
And countless others — celebrities, ordinary Nigerians, and even the Dangote Group — shared prayers, tears, and words too heavy for the moment.
But beyond the outpouring of sympathy, a louder conversation is building: Could Ruth’s death have been prevented?
Some fans and public voices think so.
@IamMrBrain wrote, “It’s heartbreaking to hear about this loss. Despite the severity of her condition, she was denied proper care and the chance to seek treatment abroad. This shows how justice and quality healthcare often seem out of reach for the average person.”
Activist and former 2023 Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, on X, went further, “This death was not inevitable; it could have been avoided if drivers were properly trained, if Nigeria’s terrible roads were fixed, and if there had been timely, humane medical intervention. Instead, another young life wasted, another family left grieving.”
For many, Ruth’s passing has become more than a personal tragedy; it is now a painful reminder of how bureaucracy, delay, and broken systems can turn survivable injuries into irreversible loss.
She fought. Her family fought. A promise was made. And now, only memories remain, along with a haunting question that refuses to fade. Could Ruth Otabor still be alive today?
