Abuja, Nigeria – Nigerian reality TV star and actress, Ijeoma Josephina Otabor, popularly known as Phyna, has cried out over what she described as frustrating delays in the medical treatment of her younger sister, Ruth Otabor, following a tragic truck accident near Auchi Polytechnic, Edo State, on August 13, 2025.
Ruth sustained multiple life-threatening injuries from the crash, including a leg amputation, crushed reproductive organs, and a damaged bladder, leaving her in a critical condition.
According to Phyna, the Dangote Group, whose truck was allegedly involved in the accident, had initially promised to take responsibility for Ruth’s treatment and facilitate her evacuation abroad. However, she revealed that the company later shifted its position, demanding fresh medical reports to justify the evacuation.
“She doesn’t have much time” – Phyna
In an emotional live session on Instagram, Phyna narrated her ordeal dealing with the company’s representatives. She said the group’s insistence on a medical report stating that her sister’s condition could not be managed in Nigeria was both shocking and insensitive.
“Medical reports he said to me received and I said these are all the medical reports. If you give it to your doctors too, you’ll realize she doesn’t have much time and we need to act fast. What’s the next move? He replied me and said, ‘I agree with you, we will engage the medical team and revert.’ Then I asked, which medical team? He said, ‘The ones in Lagoon and the insurance team.’”
Phyna argued that the request was unnecessary since an earlier agreement had been reached to only stabilise Ruth in Lagos before flying her out for advanced treatment.
“I already asked the hospital’s MD if my sister can be moved, and he said yes. That was the agreement. Now they are asking Lagoon Hospital to issue a report that they cannot handle my sister. Why should a hospital write such a thing when they are already providing care? This is not about hospital capacity; it’s about survival. Her life is at stake!”
“Would Dangote wait if it were his child?”
Expressing her anger, Phyna questioned the double standards in healthcare access, suggesting that wealthy and powerful families would not wait for bureaucratic processes before flying their loved ones abroad for urgent care.
“If Dangote’s child is sick, do they wait for medical reports to say she cannot be treated in Nigeria before flying her out? Why then are they stressing me? My sister’s lungs have fluid, her bladder is busted, and her reproductive organ is crushed. We are praying for her to survive each day, and they are wasting precious time with paperwork. This is heartbreaking.”
“We cannot gamble with her life”
The Big Brother Naija Season 7 winner emphasised that her family cannot afford to gamble with Ruth’s fragile condition. She maintained that every delay reduced her sister’s chances of survival, stressing that the priority should be immediate medical evacuation.
“I cannot use my sister’s life to gamble. Every day we delay, her chances get slimmer. All documents for her evacuation are ready, and now they are dragging their feet. I will not keep quiet about this because my sister’s life matters.”
Public Outcry and Call for Action
Phyna’s revelations have sparked widespread sympathy and outrage on social media, with fans, activists, and civil society groups demanding urgent intervention. Many have called on the Dangote Group to honor its initial commitment and prioritize saving Ruth’s life over bureaucratic hurdles.
Meanwhile, medical experts warn that patients in Ruth’s condition often require specialised care and equipment that may not be readily available in Nigeria. Delay, they argue, could have devastating consequences.
A Test of Corporate Responsibility
The case raises critical questions about corporate accountability, healthcare inequalities, and the treatment of accident victims in Nigeria. For many observers, this situation will be a test of whether big corporations like the Dangote Group are willing to match their words with actions in times of crisis.
As Ruth battles for survival, her sister Phyna continues to amplify her voice, insisting that nothing short of swift evacuation abroad can give her a fighting chance.
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