BBNaija Winner Phyna Loses Sister, Ruth Otabor After Truck Accident

RYNI News | Omotayo Stephen . O
2 September 2025

What should have been the dawn of a promising future has ended in unthinkable heartbreak. Ruth Otabor, the younger sister of Big Brother Naija Season 7 winner Josephina “Phyna” Otabor, has died—just weeks after surviving a horrific crash involving a Dangote truck.

Her death, announced in a family statement released by Eko Solicitors & Advocates and shared on Phyna’s Instagram page, occurred at 6:30 a.m. on Sunday, August 31, 2025. The Otabor family, still in shock, appealed for privacy as they process the devastating loss.

The tragedy began on August 13, only six days after Ruth had joyfully graduated from Auchi Polytechnic. On her way home, she was struck by a heavy-duty Dangote truck near the institution. Eyewitnesses recounted the horror: the towering vehicle rammed into her, crushing her leg before a quick-thinking bystander managed to bring it to a halt.

Doctors were forced to amputate her leg to save her life. For a time, hope shimmered. Ruth, though fragile, was said to be conscious and responsive. Her family rallied around her bedside, and her sister Phyna—clinging to faith—called for prayers from fans across the nation.

But fate proved merciless. Complications from her injuries set in, and despite intensive care, Ruth’s body could not withstand the trauma. On the last day of August, her fight ended, leaving her family and fans stunned by the cruel twist of destiny.

Phyna, adored by millions for her grit and charisma, expressed her grief in a short but searing post: “This pain is too much to bear.” It was a cry that resonated across social media, drawing torrents of condolences from celebrities, fans, and ordinary Nigerians alike.

Beyond the grief of one family, Ruth’s death has once again put the Dangote Group under public scrutiny. Over the years, their fleet of trucks has been linked to multiple road tragedies across Nigeria. Many are now demanding accountability, stricter oversight, and safety reforms to prevent further needless deaths.

Yet for the Otabor family, public debates offer no balm. They are left to mourn a daughter, sister, and mother whose dreams were cut short at the threshold of adulthood.

Funeral arrangements, the family announced, will be communicated in due course. Until then, Nigerians mourn alongside Phyna—a star who now faces a pain no spotlight can brighten.

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