Nigerian TikTok content moderator Ladi Anzaki Olubunmi, based in Kenya, has been found dead inside her apartment.
Olubunmi, who had been employed by Teleperformance, a firm contracted to moderate TikTok content, was discovered dead in her apartment on Friday, March 7, 2025 in Nairobi.
Her decomposing body was discovered three days after she died.
Content moderators in Kenya held a vigil for Olubunmi on Tuesday, March 11. According to CNN journalist, Larry Madowo, her coworkers claim she had been denied leave several times.
Although she was entitled to one return ticket home every year, the deceased had not returned home since she arrived in Kenya.
Colleagues report she expressed fatigue and a strong desire to return to Nigeria, a trip she had been unable to make for two years.
The cause of Olubunmi’s death remains unknown, but the incident has reignited concerns about the working conditions faced by content moderators.
Teleperformance Kenya, in a statement, refuted claims that Olubunmi was denied leave, calling them “baseless and untrue.”
However, colleagues allege that many Nigerian employees lack work permits, preventing travel home.
Content moderators, including those from other tech giants, gathered at the vigil, citing poor pay, mental health support deficiencies, and long hours as contributing factors to the tragedy.
Kauna Malgwi, a friend of Olubunmi, emphasized that over 100 Nigerian workers at Teleperformance have been unable to use their annual return tickets due to permit issues.
Olubunmi’s family, who had not seen her since she moved to Kenya in 2022, is now seeking answers. The family also now faces the challenge of arranging a burial, potentially in Nairobi, due to financial constraints.
