Tragedy struck in Benin City as the mother of Oreofeoluwa Lawal-Babalola, the young boy who gained fame with his “mummy be calming down” video in 2020, has taken her own life. Mrs Toluige Olokoobi was found dead by hanging, prompting the Edo State Police Command to arrest her husband for questioning.
Oreofeoluwa Lawal-Babalola’s tearful plea to his mother captured the hearts of many after a video of him went viral on social media. The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, even used the video to convey a message of calmness during the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations in 2020.
Despite the initial fame, the family had largely remained out of the public eye until the tragic news surfaced on Tuesday. An anonymous source, identified as an X user, revealed that Olokoobi had taken her own life in Benin, the capital of Edo State, without disclosing the reasons behind her decision.
According to the X user, who claimed to have been at the scene on Monday afternoon, Olokoobi had kept her struggles to herself, refusing to share her problems with anyone. The woman left behind three children, including the well-known Oreofeoluwa Lawal-Babalola.
Confirming the incident, Chidi Nwabuzor, the spokesperson for the Edo State Police Command, stated in a conversation with BBC Pidgin that the husband had been arrested and detained for questioning. The husband reportedly told the police that he discovered his wife hanging with a rope around her neck upon returning from the market.
Mrs Toluige Olokoobi was immediately rushed to the hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. The police spokesperson further added that her body was then taken to the mortuary. The circumstances leading to this tragic event remain undisclosed, as investigations are ongoing. The news has left many saddened, especially considering the family’s earlier interaction with the Lagos State Governor, which portrayed them in a positive light.
