Phyna [CREDIT: Instagram]

A Reality Star’s Public Outcry

Former Big Brother Naija winner, Ijeoma Josephina Otabor, popularly known as Phyna, has accused the Dangote Group of reneging on its promise to sponsor her sister’s overseas treatment following a tragic accident involving one of the company’s cement trucks.

Phyna’s younger sister, Ruth Otabor, was severely injured in Auchi, Edo State, last Wednesday when a Dangote Cement truck reportedly ran over her. The accident, which occurred barely six days after Ruth’s graduation, resulted in the amputation of one of her legs and left her battling multiple life-threatening injuries.

Phyna’s Initial Plea to Dangote

Shortly after the incident, Phyna appealed to Dangote Group officials to fly her sister abroad for advanced medical treatment. She argued that if the victim were a child of billionaire industrialist Aliko Dangote, the situation would have been handled differently.

“I am putting my sister as Dangote’s child. Because if she were Dangote’s child, he wouldn’t bring her here. Dangote would not bring his child here. He would fly her out,” Phyna declared during a hospital visit.

At the time, the company’s representatives reportedly assured the family that Ruth’s case would be managed with “full transparency” and indicated plans to move her from Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital to Lagos’ Lagoon Hospital, pending arrangements to fly her abroad.

Accusations of Backtracking

In a new twist, Phyna has accused the Dangote Group of “trying to outsmart” her family by going silent after initial promises.

Speaking during an Instagram Live session, the reality star said that communication with the company’s representatives has stalled, with one official now insisting that further decisions would be guided by medical advice rather than earlier commitments.

“We are engaging the doctors already on treatment plans for Ruth. We would be guided by medical opinion on what is best for Ruth at all times,” she read from the official’s message.

The Medical Report: A Grim Picture

Phyna disclosed that her sister remains on life support at Lagoon Hospital, battling extensive injuries beyond the amputation. Reading from a medical report, she listed Ruth’s conditions:

• Fluid in the lungs
• Crushed reproductive organs
• Burst bladder
• Damage to chest, pelvis, and lower trunk
• Right above-the-knee amputation
• External fixation of the left lower limb
• Colostomy and suprapubic tracheostomy
• Multiple blood transfusions

“My sister has not woken up for days. She’s on a vent machine, but he [the Dangote representative] did not reply to me again,” Phyna lamented.

Witness Account of the Accident

According to eyewitnesses, Ruth’s accident occurred when a Dangote Cement truck ran over her leg before being chased down and stopped by a bystander. The incident left the fresh graduate critically injured and fighting for her life.

Dangote Group’s Position

As of now, the Dangote Group has not issued any direct response to Phyna’s latest accusations. The company’s last public statement came a week ago, where it confirmed that senior officials and its insurance team had visited the victim and her family.

Public Sympathy and Calls for Accountability

Phyna’s outspoken stance has drawn widespread sympathy online, with fans, activists, and concerned Nigerians calling on the Dangote Group to prioritize the victim’s recovery and uphold its corporate responsibility.

As Ruth’s condition remains critical, pressure is mounting on Africa’s largest cement producer to prove that its welfare policies extend beyond statements and to demonstrate genuine care for accident victims linked to its operations.