Popular reality TV star and former Big Brother Naija winner, Phyna, has come under the spotlight after her fierce criticism of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent visit to Benue State, where he met with survivors of the Yelwata massacre. Her comments have sparked a firestorm of reactions on social media, drawing both support and condemnation from Nigerians online.
The controversy erupted shortly after President Tinubu visited Benue to sympathize with victims of the brutal Fulani herdsmen attack that left over 200 people dead, many of whom were reportedly burnt alive. As part of the visit, Tinubu toured a hospital where he interacted with alleged survivors of the attack.
However, in a strongly-worded post on her X (formerly Twitter) page, Phyna, born Ijeoma Josephina Otabor, questioned the authenticity of the visit. She alleged that there were no survivors left to visit and implied that the images circulating from the hospital visit were either staged or photoshopped.
“There were no victims in Yelewata, they were all killed and burnt alive,” she tweeted. “Who are those in the hospital that the President went to visit standing on a red rug? Why are you doing a photoshop to make us angrier? Nigeria has failed us.”
Phyna’s outburst has divided social media users. While a segment of the public applauded her for speaking up against what they see as government propaganda, others accused her of ignorance, insensitivity, and spreading misinformation during a period of national grief.
Some users questioned her claim that all victims died, noting that not every individual in the community perished, and that there were injured survivors from previous and current attacks being treated in hospitals across the state.
One user, @TessyOctober, clarified:
“Of course there were victims as well as people who were burnt. Some of the victims in those pictures are the ones who survived the attacks previously before the one that happened in Yelewata.”
Others were more confrontational. @TheDecapitator tweeted:
“You wan chase clout again with Benue matter?”
While @kakanfo wrote:
“How you take know say na all of them die? Are you one of the killers?”
Despite the backlash, some Nigerians stood by Phyna. @Mrprosper said:
“We are doomed. Everything about this government is fake. Over 200 people killed but here we are today visiting hired people in the hospital. God have mercy.”
The attack in Yelwata, Guma Local Government Area, has triggered national outrage. The death toll from the coordinated attack by suspected herders stands at over 200, with communities razed and survivors displaced. The federal government has faced increased pressure over insecurity in the Middle Belt, with critics accusing it of neglect and poor crisis response.
President Tinubu’s visit, meant to demonstrate solidarity and federal concern, has instead ignited further controversy, especially with political opponents and civil society groups describing it as too little, too late.
Phyna, known for her outspoken persona, joins a growing list of Nigerian celebrities who have used their platforms to speak out on national issues. While her post reflects the anger and disillusionment of many Nigerians, critics argue that such commentary must be grounded in facts and sensitivity, especially in the wake of mass casualties.
Analysts say this episode highlights the thin line between activism and misinformation in the digital age, especially when influential personalities weigh in on serious national tragedies.
As Benue continues to mourn its dead and seek justice, the heated reactions to Phyna’s comments underscore the emotional complexity surrounding national tragedies, the public’s demand for accountability, and the evolving role of celebrities in shaping Nigeria’s political and humanitarian discourse.