Decomposing Body of Nigerian TikTok Contract Staff Found in Kenya Apartment Three Days After Death

A Nigerian woman working as a TikTok content moderator in Kenya, Ladi Anzaki Olubunmi, has been found dead under unclear circumstances.

Olubunmi, employed by Teleperformance, a company contracted to moderate TikTok content, was discovered dead in her Nairobi apartment on Friday, March 7, 2025. Her decomposing body was found three days after her death.

Content moderators in Kenya held a vigil for Olubunmi on Tuesday, March 11. According to CNN journalist Larry Madowo, her coworkers claimed she had been repeatedly denied leave.

Although she was entitled to one return ticket home each year, Olubunmi had not returned to Nigeria since arriving in Kenya. Colleagues reported that she had expressed exhaustion and a strong desire to go home, a trip she had been unable to make for two years.

The cause of Olubunmi’s death remains unknown, but the incident has raised concerns about the working conditions of content moderators.

Teleperformance Kenya, in a statement to a journalist, denied claims that Olubunmi was denied leave, calling them “baseless and untrue.” However, colleagues alleged that many Nigerian employees lack work permits, preventing them from traveling home.

Content moderators, including those from other tech companies, gathered at the vigil, highlighting issues such as poor pay, inadequate mental health support, and long working hours as contributing factors to the tragedy.

Kauna Malgwi, a friend of Olubunmi, stated 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. They also face the challenge of arranging her burial, potentially in Nairobi due to financial constraints.