Two Nigerian Skit Makers Die in Separate Tragic Incidents Weeks Apart
The Nigerian entertainment community is reeling after the untimely deaths of two popular skit makers in unrelated tragedies occurring just weeks apart.
Sanku “Mr Sanku Comedy” Olaniyi
On September 1, 2025, Raji Adetola, known widely as Sanku or “Mr Sanku Comedy”, was killed in a car accident along the Oyo, Ogbomoso highway near Ibadan, Oyo State. He and a friend were rushed to hospital after their vehicle plunged into a ditch, but Sanku was pronounced dead a few hours later. The condition of his companion remains uncertain, though reports suggest that the friend sustained critical injuries.
Sanku began his career in 2021 and quickly built a strong following on TikTok thanks to his clever storytelling and comedic flair. The day before the accident, he posted a now-viral video in which he expressed a heartfelt plea: “When it is time for us to enjoy what we worked hard for, may we never lose our lives.”
Colleagues such as Funmi Awelewa, Ozain Comedy, and Jidex took to social media to express their grief. Awelewa shared a moving message, recalling that someone had believed Sanku was responding to treatment, “I prayed… we prayed,” she wrote, before learning of his death. Ozain simply wrote, “Rest well, soldier,” as Jidex added “Rest in peace” on TikTok.
Austin, Another Rising Talent
Weeks earlier, in Lagos, another emerging skitmaker known simply as Austin was found brutally murdered in the Lakowe area of Ibeju-Lekki Local Government. According to the Punch newspaper, suspected cultists attacked Austin in the early morning hours of August 14. They allegedly tracked him down in his apartment, dragged him outside, and killed him with machete wounds. A trained hairstylist, Austin reportedly sensed danger shortly before the attack.
Reaction and Reflection
The deaths of both Sanku and Austin have sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s creative scene. Tributes poured in from fans, fellow performers, and social media users, highlighting the fragile nature of life and the volatile environment that young entertainers face.
Sanku’s final video, where he ominously acknowledges the risk of dying just before enjoying success, has taken on a haunting resonance. Meanwhile, the suspected cult-related killing of Austin draws attention to the broader issues of insecurity in parts of Lagos.
Both losses cast a somber pall over the skit-making community, prompting reflection on the cultural and social challenges that accompany Nigeria’s burgeoning digital entertainment industry.