LAGOS, Nigeria (Oct. 2, 2024) — Nollywood actor Yomi Fabiyi has fled Nigeria, claiming he narrowly escaped an assassination attempt due to his efforts in seeking justice for late Afrobeats musician Mohbad, who died in September 2023. Fabiyi made the revelation in an Instagram video, where he detailed the threats he faced following his advocacy for a transparent investigation into Mohbad’s death.
Fabiyi’s absence at Mohbad’s coroner inquest and his failure to lead a planned protest at the Lagos State House of Assembly on Sept. 30, 2024, raised questions. The actor was expected to spearhead the demonstration to coincide with the resumed inquiry into the musician’s death. However, Fabiyi explained that the threats to his life had become too severe.
“I escaped assassination two days ago, and they still planned to kill me tonight,” Fabiyi said in his video. “If they had succeeded, I would have been buried tomorrow.”
In his statement, Fabiyi emphasized that his advocacy for justice in the Mohbad case was driven by a desire to do the right thing and not by any financial incentives. “They will now waste me all because I’m fighting for justice. I didn’t collect money from anybody. I am just doing my own for God,” he stated.
Fabiyi revealed that his departure from Nigeria was unplanned. “I have to run for my life. I just left Nigeria unplanned, and as it is now, I don’t even know my destination,” he added, highlighting the seriousness of the threats against him.
The circumstances surrounding the death of Mohbad, a rising star in Nigeria’s Afrobeats scene, have sparked widespread public outcry, with many demanding a thorough investigation. Fabiyi’s vocal support for the cause and his call for accountability appear to have made him a target.
