‘We Igbos own Lagos lands’: Rapper Illbliss under fire over controversial tweet

Nigerian rapper, Tobechukwu Ejiofor, popularly known as Illbliss, has come under fire on social media following a heated exchange over Igbo investments and land ownership in Lagos.

The controversy began after the rapper defended the economic contributions of Igbos to Lagos, insisting that they had played a major role in commerce and real estate development in the state.

“The Igbos have contributed immensely to the Lagos economy! Commerce wise! If you have a problem with it, hug a frigging transformer!!! We have made massive investments in real estate too!! Other tribes have contributed too. Why is it always a problem when it’s the Igbos? Why?” he wrote on X.

However, the conversation took a sharper turn after an X user, @IgeOlusayo47761, fired back at him, saying: “Better go contribute and save your lands from erosion. Lagos has offered you betterment. Respect that and stop being lousy. No one sends ur papa.”

Illbliss was then alleged to have responded in a now-deleted tweet, saying: “We own your lands fool. We bought everywhere and renting it back to you. Thank you Lagos for the opportunity. You will pay rent forever in this city, bloody scavenger.”

The alleged comment immediately sparked outrage, with many users accusing the rapper of making a careless and inflammatory statement capable of worsening ethnic tension between Igbos and Lagosians.

One user, @TLS042, described the tweet as bad public relations, saying Illbliss had “set up the Ibo people of the South East Nigeria” with the comment.

“I know you are trying to make a comeback in the music industry and currently promoting a music project. But this is a fact. This is bad PR. Very detestable to say the least,” the user wrote.

Another X user said: “Tbh I thought Illbliss was a sensible person. He said they own Lagos and they’ve bought everything. If I didn’t grow up with Igbo people, I would have said a lot but let me just leave it here. One day, we shall see. You guys should continue pushing Lagosians to the wall.”

Similarly, @Remmzor__ criticised the rapper, saying: “I still can’t believe Illbliss made that comment yesterday. That’s so careless of him. How do you speak of your host in that manner?”

The backlash also took another turn after netizens revisited an old podcast clip of Illbliss himself, where he spoke about clannish behaviour within parts of the South-East.

In the resurfaced clip, the rapper alleged that even within Igbo communities, people sometimes discriminate along state, town and local government lines.

“Where I’m from, they will tell you not to give it to an Anambra, Imo or Abia man, but to give it to someone from Enugu. The practice goes from state level down to local governments. They also warn against marrying from certain subgroups,” he said.

Some critics have since used the clip to accuse Illbliss of double standards, arguing that he had once openly criticised internal discrimination in the South-East, only to later make a controversial comment about land ownership in Lagos.