- Bokku Mart apologises after Nigerians condemned a viral advertisement many labelled as ethnically insensitive.
- The supermarket says the controversial “Omo Igbo” remark in the ad was posted without internal approval.
- Bokku Mart introduces stricter review and vendor oversight to prevent future content issues.
- Company emphasises its commitment to inclusivity, unity and respect for all Nigerians.
Bokku Mart has tendered a public apology following outrage on social media over a promotional video that many Nigerians described as tribal and offensive.
The uproar began after a female influencer, identified as Defolah, appeared in a marketing video shared on Bokku Mart’s social media page on Tuesday. In the clip, she used the phrase “No Omo Igbo can cheat me,” a comment viewers interpreted as a slur aimed at Nigerians of South-East origin. Within hours, the video went viral, triggering nationwide criticism and calls for customers to boycott the supermarket.
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Although the influencer later issued her own apology, the backlash continued, prompting Bokku Mart to release an official statement.
In a post shared on its X (formerly Twitter) page, Bokku Mart apologised, describing the video as “offensive and hurtful” and emphasising that the content did not reflect the company’s values.
“We are deeply saddened and disturbed by a video recently shared online that contained offensive and hurtful language,” the company said. “The language used in the video was unacceptable and deeply misaligned with Bokku’s values.”
The supermarket clarified that the video was produced externally and was posted by a media agency without the company’s approval.
“While the content originated from an external influencer and was published by a third-party media firm without prior review by our team, we take full responsibility for its appearance on our platforms,” Bokku Mart stated.
To prevent future incidents, the brand announced that it has implemented stricter content screening processes and strengthened oversight of partner agencies.
“We have since strengthened our content approval and vendor oversight processes to ensure such an incident never happens again,” the company explained.
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Reaffirming its position, Bokku Mart stressed that it is committed to unity, diversity, and respect for every Nigerian, regardless of background.
“Bokku Mart is more than a retail brand; we are a proudly Nigerian company built on love for our people and communities. We celebrate our nation’s rich diversity and stand firmly against all forms of discrimination,” the statement added.
