Mairo Muhammad Mudi
As a woman, a mother, and a member of this ever-evolving digital society, I feel compelled to lend my voice to the recent saga involving Babiana.
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The self-acclaimed “Queen of Update,” whose troubling descent from internet fame to public shame has yet again ignited a debate about morality, mental health, and the ruthlessness of Northern TikTok communities.
I know what it feels like to be cyberbullied. I know what it’s like to hear your child cry herself to sleep because of cruel comments made by faceless strangers online.
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I have lived that reality. So, when Babiana resurfaced online, eyes swollen from tears, calling for help from Mr. President, VDM, and Tunde Ednut, blaming Muslims and Northerners for her depression, my first reaction wasn’t judgmental.
It was pain. Because no matter what sins society believes she has committed, no one deserves to drown in that level of mental torment alone.
Babiana’s story is not just a TikTok scandal. It is a cautionary tale. It is also a reflection of who we’ve become as a digital society: merciless, unforgiving, and drunk on the intoxicating thrill of online shaming.
From Queen of Updates to Queen of Tears
Babiana earned her digital crown by dishing out unfiltered updates on others, friends, foes, celebrities, and everyone in between.
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She built a social media kingdom based on exposure, gossip, and controversy. She wielded her phone like a sword, slicing through reputations without mercy. Many watched in awe, some with disdain, but none could deny her influence.
Then came her fall from grace: an explicit video, allegedly of her, surfaced online.
The same hands that once applauded her were now typing venomous comments, sharing the video like wildfire, and mocking her openly.
TikTok, especially the Northern section, went ablaze. Not a soul offered empathy.
Even when she admitted to battling depression, claiming she relied on pills to sleep, people laughed harder. They didn’t believe her. They said it was karma. They said she was reaping what she sowed.
And maybe she was. But must we dance around someone else’s emotional graveyard to prove a point?
A Cry for Help or A Call to War?
Recently, Babiana resurfaced again, weeping publicly, appealing for help in what appeared to be a final emotional breakdown.
She blamed Northerners, Muslims, and essentially begged social media influencers like VDM and Tunde Ednut to come to her rescue.
Now, that plea sparked an avalanche of reactions, some predictable, others shocking.
Northerners felt insulted. Understandably so.
Her tone, wording, and generalisation suggested that her problem wasn’t with certain individuals, but an entire region and faith. That was a poor choice on her part, and it cost her dearly.
However, the most unexpected twist came from VDM, a man many hold in high esteem as a voice of reason and justice.
He initially responded with what seemed like sympathy, but it quickly spiralled into mockery, threats, and intense body shaming.
For someone who has earned respect across Nigeria for standing up for the oppressed, this was a disappointing display of power misused.
What Babiana Should Have Done Differently
Let us speak frankly. When the scandal broke, Babiana had several options.
She could have gone off the grid, deactivated her social media accounts, and sought mental health support.
She could have released a carefully worded statement seeking forgiveness and promising to turn a new leaf.
Or better still, she could have stayed silent, allowing the storm to pass as most do.
But instead, she came out crying on camera, an act that many viewed as performative rather than redemptive.
And once you open the floodgate of public emotion, the internet rarely gives you back your dignity.
Still, as shameful as this situation may be, it can pass. If handled with sincerity, reflection, and humility, Babiana’s story could become one of redemption rather than ruin.
But she must start by understanding that her healing will not come from social media influencers or online sympathy. It must begin with God.
She must seek forgiveness, from her Creator, from those she has hurt, and most importantly, from herself. She must rebrand, not just her business, but her entire identity.
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There’s no shame in transformation. But there is shame in pretending to be the victim when you have not fully owned your role in the mess.
To VDM: Justice Must Be Tempered with Compassion
To VDM Sir, I have written about you before. You have my respect. You have become a symbol of justice, a defender of the voiceless, and a social media juggernaut whose words carry the weight of a thousand swords.
But this time, I must respectfully disagree with your approach.
When someone is drowning and calls out your name, you don’t throw stones. You throw a rope.
Even if that person is someone who once mocked others, mocked you, or mocked herself, mental health is not a battlefield for vengeance.
Yes, Babiana has been reckless. Yes, she has hurt people. But when she said she was depressed and called you a hero, she placed her last hope in your hands.
Imagine if she had ended her life after your public response. Would we not have gathered in Twitter Spaces to cry hypocrisy?
You should have reached out quietly. Offered assistance. Ensured she was safe.
Then, if she recovered, use your platform to teach, correct, and rebuke. But never while she was still bleeding.
To Tunde Ednut: Sometimes, Silence is Loud Enough
Tunde’s silence was, in many ways, louder than VDM’s outburst. He didn’t respond.
He didn’t mock. He didn’t lend his voice either. Perhaps he knew that sometimes, saying nothing is wiser than saying too much.
In a world where every click is monetised, sometimes silence is the last dignity we can offer the fallen.
To Arewa Youths and Northern TikTokkers
Now let’s bring it home.
Dear Arewa community, we must ask ourselves: When did we become so hardened? Why do we relish the downfall of others, especially our own?
Yes, Babiana mocked people. Yes, she thrived on gossip. But we are not her judges. Only God can weigh the intentions of a human heart.
And the same God who tests her through this public humiliation may test you through something worse perhaps something that cannot be posted online.
Let’s not pretend that we are saints. Many of us carry secrets that, if exposed, will shatter the illusion of our moral superiority.
So, instead of rejoicing at her pain, let us pray that she finds healing and guidance.
It is easy to point fingers at the fallen, but remember, everyone has their day of trial. And when yours comes, may you find mercy, not mockery.
To Our Daughters: You Are More Than A Trend
And finally, to the young girls growing up in the age of TikTok, Instagram reels, and Snapchat filters, please understand this: your value is not in your virality.
Your beauty is not in how many followers you can attract or how much skin you can show.
Dignity is still a currency. Modesty is still in fashion. Wisdom is still priceless.
If you build a brand on controversy, you will eventually drown in chaos. If you sell your soul for clout, you will pay a price that no amount of fame can cover.
Dear girls, the world is watching. Be guided.
Final Thoughts: A Call for Mercy
This is not just about Babiana. This is about all of us.
We must build a digital culture that allows room for repentance, not just cancellation. A culture where people can say “I was wrong” and still be welcomed back with grace. A culture that prioritises mental health, spiritual reflection, and compassion over cruelty.
Babiana’s story is far from over. It is in her hands now to decide what the next chapter will look like. And for the rest of us, especially those who claim moral superiority it is time we paused, reflected, and remembered:
We are all just a scandal away from public disgrace.
Let he who is without sin, scroll the next video.
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Let’s be guided.
Written by:
Mairo Muhammad Mudi
Email: mairommuhammad@gmail.com